Indian fugitive charged after extradition to UK

LONDON: Aman Vyas, an Indian student in London who assaulted some women and killed one of them in 2009 and later fled to India, was extradited to the United Kingdom on Friday and was soon charged by Scotland Yard with the rape and murder of the woman.

Vyas, 35, who lost legal bids in India to block his extradition, is the fourth individual and third Indian citizen to be extradited from India to the UK since the 1992 India-UK extradition treaty. His extradition was the subject of a campaign over the years by Labour MP Stella Creasy.

Scotland Yard said in a statement that Vyas arrived at Heathrow Airport on Friday. “On his arrival, he was charged with the murder and rape of Michelle Samaraweera who died after being attacked in Walthamstow on 30 May 2009”.

It said Vyas was also charged with offences relating to three other women: one count of attempted murder; five counts of assault; seven counts of rape; one count of possession of a knife or bladed article in a public place; one count of possession of an offensive weapon; and one count of sexual assault.

The offences are alleged to have taken place at locations across Walthamstow in northeast London between March 24, 2009 and May 30, 2009. Vyas is due to appear in custody at the Uxbridge Magistrates Court.

According to the Delhi high court’s judgement that cleared his extradition in July, investigation in the UK revealed that Vyas first entered the country on November 7, 2004 on a work permit. He left the country at some stage and re-entered on November 16, 2007 on a student visa.