Taxi Driver Online

Hunt under way in Netherlands for Glasgow rapist who is one of the UK's most wanted criminals


A MAN hunt is underway for a rapist from Glasgow who is thought to be on the run in the Netherlands.

Rezgar Zengana was convicted of posing as a private hire taxi driver and raping a 25-year-old woman in the city in December 2006.

He failed to appear at the High Court in Glasgow for sentencing on July 4, 2008 and has not been seen since.

Zengana posed as a private hire taxi driver to pick up his victim before driving her to a home where the attack took place.

He has been known in the Netherlands by the nickname Ali Kerim.

He is one of eight "most wanted" criminals from the UK who are part of an investigation called 'Operation Return'.

The multi-agency campaign aims to locate fugitives wanted for serious crimes committed in the UK but believed to be hiding in and around the city of Amsterdam.

Others being hunted include Robert Gerrard, 50, and Michael Moogan, 28, from Liverpool, who are suspected of having links to a drugs cartel that imported cocaine to Britain.

They were connected to a cafe in Rotterdam that was used by international drug lords as an operations centre..

Last year 20 fugitives linked to Return and other operations were captured in the Netherlands and brought back to the UK to face justice.

It is the third campaign to be launched in the Netherlands and follows the recent success of Operation Captura in Spain and Operation Zygos in Cyprus where to date, 61 out of 85 fugitives have now been arrested.

Hank Cole, head of International Operations for the NCA, said: "Many believe they can use the Netherlands as a base to continue their illegal activities, which still have an impact on the UK, but they are finding out that it is not a safe haven.

"The exceptional level of collaboration and intelligence sharing with the Dutch authorities has resulted in many of our most wanted being captured.

"Last year alone, 20 fugitives linked to Return and other operations were captured in the Netherlands and brought back to the UK to face justice.

"However, the most important thing is the support of the public.

"Be our eyes and ears and let us know if you have any information, no matter how small or trivial, on the whereabouts of our targets."

Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org

The appeals can be viewed online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/opreturn

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home ... 1392286090

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

'Taxi driver' rapist suspected to be on the run in Turkey

Rezgar Zengana brutally raped a 25-year-old woman on a night out in the city centre by posing as a taxi driver. Today - exactly seven years since he went on the run - we can reveal he may be hiding out in a Turkish bolthole. Rather than face sentence after being convicted of rape in June, 2008, Zengana fled the country.

The sexual predator - who has as many as four aliases - was ordered to return to court for sentencing the following month, but he then vanished. Senior detectives fear the 32-year-old may have fled to Turkey, which has become a popular haven for criminals looking to keep out of the reach of the law. Police said in 2011 that they feared he had gone to the Netherlands, but now, the net has been widened to Turkey.

Zengana is around 6ft tall, of slim build, with black hair and brown eyes. He is described as being of "Middle Eastern appearance" and was born in Iraq in 1983. He has been known to use various aliases, including Abdul Qadar, Rusheer Ahmed, Syed Waq and Ali Kermin.

Zengana picked up his victim in Argyle Street in December, 2006, while posing as a private hire driver. She was going home from a Christmas party. But, instead, Zengana took her to a property in Cessnock, where he carried out the attack.

He was convicted but was bailed while awaiting sentence, and disappeared. Zengana recently featured on Police Scotland's Most Wanted list and officers have appealed for information. A statement read: "Police Scotland is appealing to the public for any information they have which could help trace him.

"If you have seen him, or know someone who may have information of his whereabouts, please contact Police Scotland on 101. Alternatively, if you wish to pass information anonymously you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

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IDFIMH