A rugby league player named Keven Appo fled to his home country of Papua New Guinea after being charged with rape, sexual assault, and two counts of assault. Mr. Appo, who previously played for Bradford Bulls, was granted conditional bail on November 26th by Bradford Magistrates’ Court. However, by the end of that day, he had boarded a flight to Dubai from Manchester Airport and eventually arrived in Papua New Guinea after a connecting flight.
Prosecutor Fiona Newcombe confirmed that Mr. Appo is currently undergoing an extradition process, as authorities aim to bring him back to the United Kingdom to face the charges against him. Initially, Mr. Appo was set to appear at the court on Monday morning, but he failed to attend the hearing. Instead, he gave both his house and car keys to the rugby club manager before fleeing the country.
Bradford Bulls sacked Mr. Appo after he received the charges, stating that they had canceled his playing contract. The Papua New Guinea international joined the club in 2023 and signed a new two-year deal in August last year. Furthermore, he played in the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, held in England, before his charges and subsequent departure from the team.
Currently, authorities will work alongside the police force in Papua New Guinea to facilitate the extradition process and bring Mr. Appo back to the UK. The situation surrounding Mr. Appo has garnered significant attention, and authorities will likely prioritize seeing the legal process through to the end
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