Johannesburg - This week South Africa achieved another spot on the list of Dubious Distinctions, the best place to hide if you're on the run from the FBI is Brakpan.
Nichole Michelle King has been one of America's most wanted for the last seven years.
And yet she managed to remain elusive and mysterious in the quiet suburb of Sunair Park, Brakpan, where she sought refuge from prying eyes. King arrived on the other side of the N12 in 2009 with neatly cropped blonde hair. She chose the likes of houndstooth print jackets and scarves. By the time she had become a local, she had purple-streaked hair and glitter-rimmed eyes.
No one knew her. Not even her estate agent, much less her neighbour. Now local authorities are working around the clock to have her extradited back to Winnebago County in Illinois.
This week, the 44-year-old, who fled the US just before being sentenced for fraud and embezzlement, was arrested in Brakpan by members of the Fugitive and Extradition Unit of Interpol.
She appeared in the Brakpan Magistrate's Court shortly after her arrest. According to the Hawks, King was arrested in 2006 and was due to be sentenced on December 11 in 2009 but she skipped the country and found a hiding place in South Africa.
Authorities in the US had requested the Interpol unit to arrest and extradite her.
Hawks spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed King had been arrested on Wednesday and appeared in the Brakpan Magistrate's Court on an extradition application.
“She used the same name and entered the country legally with a valid passport,” Netshiunda said.
While King has sought refuge in South Africa, it was only two months ago that she moved to the quiet Brakpan suburb. On Friday afternoon the news of her arrest puzzled her neighbours. “Get the f**k out of here. We’ve been harbouring a fugitive in Brakpan and right here on our street,” said a neighbour, who didn’t want to be named - adding he now understood why police cars were parked outside the house on Wednesday.
“I have lived here for 30 years and the woman blended in well. I didn't know she was American, and obviously not a fugitive,” said an another shocked neighbour.
“I have seen her drive in and out of the house. She moved in a few months ago, so I don't know her well. Most of the residents in Sunair Park are old retired couples. We don't interact much.”
The owner of the house in which King had stayed for the last two months was surprised by the arrest.
“They are a very nice couple. I met the lady (King) a few times and she seemed very pleasant. They also always paid their rent on time,” he said. “As far as the arrest is concerned, it's a private matter and I don't want to get involved.”
King’s husband refused to comment on her arrest and walked back into the house.
Another neighbour, who only wanted to go by the name of Chloe, also said she had seen but never spoken to King, but she had interacted with a man in the yard who introduced himself as her husband. “I have spoken to her husband, he was very sweet. I would ask him how he was doing and how the dogs were.”
Neighbour Ansie Dreyer said she was friends with the initial owners of the house. “I went to church with the woman who owned the house but she moved out with her husband four months ago. They sold the house and the new owner rented it out to someone else (King).”
King’s next door neighbour was astonished by the revelation.
“I cannot believe that woman lived right next door to me. Why would she choose to hide in Brakpan of all places.”
It is unclear what King did for a living but neighbours said she lived with her husband.
Saturday Star