Sexual Assault on a Minor: Suspected Rapist Arrested After a Chase on the Rocks

A 44-year-old man, on the run since 2023 for the rape of a 15-year-old schoolboy, was apprehended on Tuesday in Bénarès. Police pursued him for a kilometer over rocky terrain before successfully arresting him.

Vijaye Rajesh Jootun, wanted for sexual assault on a minor for two years, was caught on December 9. He had been elusive since the incident in December 2023, when a 15-year-old schoolboy was raped near the Social Welfare Centre in Batimarais.

According to statements from the victim, taken four months after the incident in April 2024, the teenager was on his way home when he encountered Vijaye Rajesh Jootun and his accomplice Jean-Luc Fanny. The two men allegedly restrained the boy, covered his mouth, and forcefully dragged him to the back of the building where they took turns raping him.

While Jean-Luc Fanny was arrested in April 2024, his accomplice managed to evade capture. Vijaye Rajesh Jootun had been living far from his home in Batimarais, hiding in wooded areas, sugarcane fields, or along the coast, where he often fished. For two years, he successfully eluded investigators.

A Forceful Arrest on the Rocks

The Divisional Crime Intelligence Unit (DCIU) of the Southern Division, led by Detective Inspector Jugasing, intensified the search toward the end of the year. Thanks to precise intelligence, the suspect was located at Allée Coco while fishing on the rocky shores of Bénarès, a hard-to-reach area 2.5 kilometers from the main road.

Listed as a Habitual Criminal (HC) for theft and drug offenses, Vijaye Rajesh Jootun is considered a "Hot Target." The police approached discreetly, but the fugitive sensed the trap. Familiar with the area, he fled over the rocks. Law enforcement had to pursue him through this dangerous terrain for a kilometer before finally apprehending him.

Taken to the Rivière des Anguilles police station, the man eventually confessed: "Yes, I was escaping because I committed an offense against a minor." He is now facing charges of "Causing a Child to Be Sexually Abused" and remains in police custody.