A 34-YEAR-OLD man who fled Glasgow after being accused of kidnapping and raping a woman a decade ago is on his way back to Scotland after being arrested in Spain.
The suspect, known only by his initials NVKB, is alleged to have abducted a woman in the city and raped her twice on August 28, 2005.
The man, of Pakistani nationality, fled the country after failing to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court and an international warrant was issued for his arrest. He was held in Barcelona last weekend by detectives from the Spanish National Police on the Scottish warrant.
The arrest came after a joint operation between Police Scotland and the Crown Office.
After the man was caught he appeared at a closed-door hearing in the Spanish capital's National Criminal Court, which handles all extradition cases in the country.
When he was asked by investigating judge Eloy Velasco if he was prepared to return to the Scotland to face justice he replied he would not fight extradition.
He was being flown back to Scotland under police escort to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court next week.
Despite the nine-year manhunt the suspect was not on the Most Wanted list and it is believed the police traced him through a tip-off.
The Crown Office and Police Scotland refused to reveal his identity.
A police spokeswoman said: "We are aware a 34-year-old man has been arrested in Spain by local police following co-operation between Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service."
The Crown Office confirmed it was liaising with Spanish police but insisted it could give no further information.
A Crown Office spokesman said: "We are liaising with the Spanish authorities in relation to the arrest of a 34-year-old man.
"As this is a live investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time".
Earlier this year fugitive businessman Michael Voudouri, 46, who laundered a total of £11.5million in a VAT scam before fleeing to Cyprus was jailed for more than 11 years after being extradited.
Scottish separatist Adam Busby, 66, originally from Paisley, is also facing extradition from Ireland for a string of charges, including bomb hoaxes and threats to poison the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown and drinking water.
janice.burns@ eveningtimes.co.uk
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