GQEBERHA – Alleged United States fugitive Robert Lee Redd Junior claimed in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 3 June, that he was assaulted by police officers during his arrest at his Westbrook home on 27 May.

Redd, who is facing extradition proceedings, alleged that officers stomped on and kicked him while taking him into custody.

According to SAPS spokesperson Colonel Amanda van Wyk, the American citizen is wanted in the United States on charges of rape and sexual assault allegedly committed against a minor.

Van Wyk said Redd, a US citizen, was wanted by Interpol on charges of rape and sexual assault of a minor.

This came after the minor’s mother reported him to the San Antonio Police Department in 2017.

Police stated that the victim was 12 years old at the time of the alleged assaults.

It is further alleged that Redd exchanged explicit text messages with her over a period of time.

As previously reported, his arrest followed a two-year investigation by the Nelson Mandela Bay Detective Task Team and Crime Intelligence, supported by Interpol and the Nelson Mandela Bay Crime Combating Unit.

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Redd’s legal representative, Danie Gouws, told the court that a US Marshal had indicated that while in police custody, Redd was attended to by a nurse and provided with pain medication.

Gouws further stated that prosecutor Marius Stander indicated he would require until 17 June to deal with Redd’s extradition matter.

Gouws agreed that additional consultations would be necessary before then.

He also told the court that Redd has only one day a week to receive family visits and that, because he was appearing in court, he had missed that opportunity. The presiding magistrate granted permission for him to receive a family visit on Thursday, 4 June.

Redd remains in custody at St Albans Correctional Centre.

The matter was postponed to 17 June for further consultations regarding his extradition to the United States.