by A rugby league international fled the UK after being accused of sexual offenses including rape, a court has heard.
Keven Appo, 25, who played for Bradford Bulls in the Betfred Championship before being sacked on Friday, has apparently traveled to his home country of Papua New Guinea.
Appo was due to appear at Bradford Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning but failed to turn up and the court told Sky News a no-bail warrant had been issued for him.
THE BBC reported that the court heard he flew to Dubai from Manchester Airport and took a connecting flight to Papua New Guinea just hours after being granted bail at a hearing in November.
THE Bradford Telegraph and Argus reported that magistrates were told he had fled the country within five hours of being charged.
Extradition proceedings have now begun to return him to Britain, prosecutor Fiona Newcombe said, according to the BBC.
She told the court that Appo had given the club manager the keys to his house and car and that British authorities would now work with Papua New Guinea police to bring him back, the BBC added.
West Yorkshire Police said in a statement on Friday: “A Calderdale man has been charged with several sexual offences.
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“Keven Appo, 25, of Halifax, has been charged with rape, sexual assault of a female and two counts of assault.”
Confirming his dismissal later today, his club said they had “cancelled Keven Appo’s player contract” but could not comment further at this stage.
