A Bradford Bulls rugby league player fled to his home country of Papua New Guinea after being accused of sexual offenses including rape, a court heard today.
Keven Appo was granted conditional bail at 4pm on November 26, but by 8.40pm that night he had allegedly already boarded a flight from Manchester to Dubai.
The 25-year-old, who lived in Halifax, later arrived in Papua New Guinea on a connecting flight, Bradford Magistrates Court was told.
Appo was due to appear in court this morning but extradition proceedings have now begun to return him to Britain, prosecutor Fiona Newcombe said.
She told the court that Appo gave the club manager the keys to his house and car, and that UK authorities would now work with Papua New Guinea police to extradite him.
The player has been charged with rape, sexual assault and two counts of assault.
Keven Appo, pictured playing for Bradford Bulls against York City Knights on July 21, 2024
Keven Appo (centre) in action for Papua New Guinea during Rugby League World Cup 2022
West Yorkshire Police previously said the charges related to an investigation by Calderdale District Adult Safeguarding Team, following a report made in April 2024.
Appo, who was born in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, made his international debut for the country at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022.
He joined Bradford Bulls in 2023, but the club terminated his contract and signed Sheffield Eagles player Bayley Liu as a replacement, the BBC reported.
Britain has an extradition agreement with Papua New Guinea as a Commonwealth country, under what is known as the “London Scheme”.
This stipulates that any relevant crime must be punished by at least two years in prison in both the requesting and requested countries.
The Home Office guidance on extraditing someone to the UK says: ‘Once a wanted person is available for surrender, the British Embassy or High Commission will notify the UKCA, or Interpol will notify the police.
‘Officers from the National Extradition Unit will make arrangements to collect and escort the wanted person back to the UK.
“The UKCA will send officials’ travel arrangements to the relevant British Embassy or High Commission and may provide a letter of introduction to officials, which will enable them to bring back the wanted person.”
MailOnline has contacted the Home Office for comment.