British fugitive held in Maspalomas
National Police officers have arrested a British citizen in Maspalomas, in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana on Gran Canaria, who was wanted by the UK authorities over eight alleged sexual offences against minors. An International Arrest and Extradition Warrant (known by the Spanish acronym OIDE) had been issued by judicial authorities in the United Kingdom over his alleged involvement in the offences, the National Police have confirmed in a press release.
Fled UK while on bail
The man had previously been arrested in the UK in connection with these offences and subsequently released on bail. However, he left the country and failed to comply with his obligation to appear before the judicial authorities when required to do so, which led to the International Arrest and Extradition Warrant being issued after his whereabouts became unknown.
Police investigation and arrest
To track him down, National Police officers launched an investigation after learning that the wanted man might be living in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. Officers from the Crimes Against Persons Group of the Specialised and Violent Crime Unit (UDEV), attached to the Local Judicial Police Brigade at Maspalomas police station, verified that the international warrant was still active through the central services of the Directorate General of the Police.
From there, they set up a discreet police operation to locate him, eventually finding the wanted man near a holiday rental property in the municipality, where he was arrested without incident. He was then taken to the Local Judicial Police Brigade offices in Maspalomas to process the relevant paperwork.
Remanded in custody pending extradition
The detainee has been placed at the disposal of the competent judicial authority, which ordered him to be remanded in provisional prison while the extradition procedure requested by the UK authorities is processed.
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