POLICE ARREST FLEEING CHILD RAPIST ON BOARD PLANE MINUTES BEFORE TAKEOFF IN DRAMATIC FOOTAGE
August 29, 2019
Jason Murdock
Newsweek
Newly released police footage shows the moment a wanted child rapist was arrested while attempting to flee on a one-way flight from the U.K. to Ethiopia.
Diiriye Ali-Jamac, 34, became the focus on an intense law enforcement investigation earlier this year after investigators determined he had sex with a 14-year-old girl on April 28. He was apprehended on a plane set to depart from London's Heathrow Airport four days later.
The video clip, obtained by officers' body-worn cameras, was released yesterday by Surrey Police, showing the man's alarmed expression in response to his capture, which happened 30 minutes before takeoff. "Wanted, for what?" he can be heard asking the arresting officer.
Despite his shocked reaction, Ali-Jamac pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child. On August 19, he was jailed for six years during a hearing at Kingston Crown Court.
On April 28, police launched a probe after the teenager was reported missing by her mother. The 14-year-old was located at a train station the following morning, later telling specialist officers that she had arranged to meet a man known only as "Diddie" using WhatsApp.
The victim told police the man had sex with her at a hotel, which was later identified by officers who analyzed a selfie the girl had taken on the morning she was found. Investigators, with the help of CCTV, identified a suspect vehicle and added it to a national wanted list on April 30.
The car was later seized, but it was not owned by the suspect. Using unspecified methods, the police were able to link the nickname "Diddie" to Ali-Jamac and he was added to the U.K. wanted persons database. Investigators said they then got a hit "almost immediately."
It quickly emerged that he had boarded the flight to Ethiopia at Heathrow airport.
Less than three hours after being added to the list, Ali-Jamac was detained by officers from the Metropolitan Police. He had bought a one-way ticket to Ethiopia on May 1. The same day, he was sent a text message by the owner of the seized vehicle spotted on the CCTV, tipping him off that he was being hunted.
Detective Constable Sally Michail, who specializes in exploitation crime, said: "[The victim] was completely taken in by this man, who was 20 years her senior and someone she thought she could trust. As soon as he became aware that police were on his trail, he tried to leave the country but fortunately we intercepted him as he boarded his flight.
"I would continue to encourage anyone who has been the victim of similar offenses to come forward and report it to us straight away. You will always be taken seriously and support and guidance will be provided to you by our team of specially trained officers," she added.
Message from Executive Director Laura A. Ahearn: Please visit our website at www.crimevictimscenter.org for news, information and resources in your community.
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