FBI hunt molester in PMB : skydiver from 2004 US National Team?

[SuFantasma 0]

Anyone has see this before?


http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=16685


FBI hunt molester in PMB
27 Nov 2008
Bongani Hans

AMERICAN and South African law enforcers are hot on the heels of a suspected serial child rapist, a South African national who is believed to be hiding in Pietermaritzburg.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) wants him extradited to the United States to face charges of sexually molesting two young girls for a period of about five years.

Graham Harding (39) left America late last year, and is believed to be in Pietermaritzburg, where he was born and raised. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that he might also be in Durban, where he has relatives.

International policing agency Interpol confirmed that Harding is on its list of international fugitives.

“Interpol received a warrant [of arrest] in June. He arrived in the country from America in December last year. We are still gathering more information with regard to the matter,” said a source close to Interpol.

A relative of Harding’s, who lives in Florida in the U.S., told The Witness he left the country a few days before the warrant for his arrest was issued.

The Witness learnt that Harding molested the children, who are sisters, when they were younger than 11 in Florida and Arizona from 2003 until he fled the country.

A family member who cannot be identified said Harding initially denied the allegations.

“He cried and tried to commit suicide, but still insisted that the victims were lying. Had his suicide attempt succeeded, he would have gone leaving behind the impression that the girls were not telling the truth,” said the family member, who added that one of the girls, who is now 16, attempted suicide as a result of the trauma.

A family friend told The Witness that Harding later confessed to the crimes before his lawyer and ex-wife and then promised to hand himself over to the police.

He fled before doing so after his lawyer told him that he could be sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty, said the family friend.

The family member said she has established that one of the reasons Harding’s arrest is delayed is because of complications in South Africa’s extradition treaty with the U.S.

“With this case still hanging it makes it hard for me to move on with my life. I think the world should be united against perpetrators of these types of crimes,” said the family member.

When contacted about the case, Interpol spokeswoman Senior Superintendent Tumi Golding could only say that Interpol is aware that Harding’s name was circulated by the FBI.

She declined to explain why he is still at large.

Harding, who was married about 10 years ago but divorced following the allegations, is a former student of the University of Natal’s Pietermaritzburg campus. He served in the SA Defence Force, and moved to America in 1998.

He was also a prominent member of the Pietermaritzburg Parachute Club and of the South African national skydiving team.

He later became part of the U.S. national skydiving team, which won a gold medal at the 2004 World Parachuting Championship in Croatia.

Parachuter Steve Bartels said he first met Harding in 1988. He said he was “shocked and devastated by Harding’s monstrous acts”.

“It is even embarrassing that I was once associated with him. I hope his conscience strikes him to go back to face his charges. If you do crime you do the time,” said Bartels.

Interpol has requested anyone who knows Harding’s whereabouts to contact its standby members at 082 778 3641.

bhans@witness.co.za

Y yo, pa' vivir con miedo, prefiero morir sonriendo, con el recuerdo vivo".
- Ruben Blades, "Adan Garcia"

[MarkTL 0]

Quote

Anyone has see this before?


http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=16685


FBI hunt molester in PMB
27 Nov 2008
Bongani Hans

AMERICAN and South African law enforcers are hot on the heels of a suspected serial child rapist, a South African national who is believed to be hiding in Pietermaritzburg.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) wants him extradited to the United States to face charges of sexually molesting two young girls for a period of about five years.

Graham Harding (39) left America late last year, and is believed to be in Pietermaritzburg, where he was born and raised. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that he might also be in Durban, where he has relatives.

International policing agency Interpol confirmed that Harding is on its list of international fugitives.

“Interpol received a warrant [of arrest] in June. He arrived in the country from America in December last year. We are still gathering more information with regard to the matter,” said a source close to Interpol.

A relative of Harding’s, who lives in Florida in the U.S., told The Witness he left the country a few days before the warrant for his arrest was issued.

The Witness learnt that Harding molested the children, who are sisters, when they were younger than 11 in Florida and Arizona from 2003 until he fled the country.

A family member who cannot be identified said Harding initially denied the allegations.

“He cried and tried to commit suicide, but still insisted that the victims were lying. Had his suicide attempt succeeded, he would have gone leaving behind the impression that the girls were not telling the truth,” said the family member, who added that one of the girls, who is now 16, attempted suicide as a result of the trauma.

A family friend told The Witness that Harding later confessed to the crimes before his lawyer and ex-wife and then promised to hand himself over to the police.

He fled before doing so after his lawyer told him that he could be sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty, said the family friend.

The family member said she has established that one of the reasons Harding’s arrest is delayed is because of complications in South Africa’s extradition treaty with the U.S.

“With this case still hanging it makes it hard for me to move on with my life. I think the world should be united against perpetrators of these types of crimes,” said the family member.

When contacted about the case, Interpol spokeswoman Senior Superintendent Tumi Golding could only say that Interpol is aware that Harding’s name was circulated by the FBI.

She declined to explain why he is still at large.

Harding, who was married about 10 years ago but divorced following the allegations, is a former student of the University of Natal’s Pietermaritzburg campus. He served in the SA Defence Force, and moved to America in 1998.

He was also a prominent member of the Pietermaritzburg Parachute Club and of the South African national skydiving team.

He later became part of the U.S. national skydiving team, which won a gold medal at the 2004 World Parachuting Championship in Croatia.

Parachuter Steve Bartels said he first met Harding in 1988. He said he was “shocked and devastated by Harding’s monstrous acts”.

“It is even embarrassing that I was once associated with him. I hope his conscience strikes him to go back to face his charges. If you do crime you do the time,” said Bartels.

Interpol has requested anyone who knows Harding’s whereabouts to contact its standby members at 082 778 3641.

bhans@witness.co.za

hmmm your profile pic and the pic on the site awfully look alike :P

Live life with no regrets

[NWFlyer 2]

Heard about it for the first time earlier today when someone else here accused the skydiving community or at least some subset of the Deland community) of harboring a criminal.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3407308#3407308

Hopefully if people in the skydiving community do know his whereabouts they'll alert the appropriate authorities so that he can face justice for the alleged crimes.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[SuFantasma 0]

Don't make me go postal !

I am not US National skydiving team material ! There is my alibi !

Y yo, pa' vivir con miedo, prefiero morir sonriendo, con el recuerdo vivo".
- Ruben Blades, "Adan Garcia"

[hobie331 0]

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3345524;page=1;mh=-1;;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC

Not really sure if the whole thread is in relation to this but the last couple posts are.

It's a gift, I don't try to explain it.

[skymama 37]

He was part of the Deland Majik 4-way team. I'm all for him being tried for his crimes.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[LOSTandCRAZY 0]

Wow, did I ever get edited!



Good thing I copied it into another post!

"Get these balls!"

[SuFantasma 0]

Quote

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=3345524;page=1;mh=-1;;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC

Not really sure if the whole thread is in relation to this but the last couple posts are.

Yep, seems to be the same .... I just saw a new Google Alert related to skydiving and my jaw dropped...

Y yo, pa' vivir con miedo, prefiero morir sonriendo, con el recuerdo vivo".
- Ruben Blades, "Adan Garcia"

[JohnRich 4]

FBI Wanted Poster:
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/fugitives/cac/harding_gd.htm

[SuFantasma 0]

What took you so long?

Y yo, pa' vivir con miedo, prefiero morir sonriendo, con el recuerdo vivo".
- Ruben Blades, "Adan Garcia"

[trumanjsparks 0]

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/nancy.grace/

Broken hearts and dirty windows make it difficult to see. That's why last night and this morning always look the same to me.

[LisaH 0]

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/nancy.grace/

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

I'm all for him being tried for his crimes.

My feeling is similar. I'm all for him being tried for the crimes of which he is accused.

[trumanjsparks 0]

This individual was apprehended by law enforcement officials in South Africa this morning and is now in transit back to the U.S.

Broken hearts and dirty windows make it difficult to see. That's why last night and this morning always look the same to me.

[ryoder 1,590]

Quote

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/nancy.grace/

I've just been watching episodes of "Boston Legal" via Netflix, and after seeing their "Gracie Jane" character, I just can't watch Nancy Grace w/o cracking up.

BTW the Wikipedia page about Nancy Grace is quite enlightening.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[normiss 855]

Do you have any news you can refer us to for this?
I'm not seeing it anywhere.

[tetra316 0]

Quote

Do you have any news you can refer us to for this?
I'm not seeing it anywhere.

I don't know where trumanjsparks is getting his info. Truman said he was detained on Dec 3. but the new article referenced in the other thread is dated Dec. 4 and says he is still at large.

[normiss 855]

Yep, that's all I'm finding as well.

I'm guessing he's still on the lam.

[SuFantasma 0]

Quote

Yep, that's all I'm finding as well.

I'm guessing he's still on the lam.

Normally the FBI is pretty fast at placing the "CAPTURED" stamp across the front of his "WANTED" poster... don't see one yet.

Y yo, pa' vivir con miedo, prefiero morir sonriendo, con el recuerdo vivo".
- Ruben Blades, "Adan Garcia"

[trumanjsparks 0]

Folks, just trust me when I say he is on the way back. He will land at MCO very soon, after a long, uncomfortable flight.

Broken hearts and dirty windows make it difficult to see. That's why last night and this morning always look the same to me.

[divnswoop 0]

Quote

Folks, just trust me when I say he is on the way back. He will land at MCO very soon, after a long, uncomfortable flight.

The flight will be the *most* comfortable thing he will be doing in a long time.

[trumanjsparks 0]

The 'accused' is now being held in the Volusia County jail. Without bond.

Broken hearts and dirty windows make it difficult to see. That's why last night and this morning always look the same to me.

[BillyVance 34]

Quote

The 'accused' is now being held in the Volusia County jail. Without bond.

Awesome.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[normiss 855]

must be a top secret operation

[tigra 0]

Maybe Dog the Bounty Hunter got him and didn't want another international kidnapping charge!