Child predator among three South Africans apprehended in the USA

Three South African men have been arrested in the United States for a series of violent crimes, including rape, highlighting a troubling trend of criminal activity among foreign nationals.

Among them is 50-year-old Barrett Preston Busschau, a convicted child predator, who was deported back to South Africa by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in June after serving time for his heinous offences.

This was due to him being convicted of sexual assault, sodomy, and forcible rape against children in 2019. Busschau pleaded guilty and was then sentenced to eight years and 10 months in prison.

He had spent 25 years on the run after committing the gruesome crimes in 1993 and was finally caught by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2018.

In a statement released by the FBI in 2018, it read: "Authorities in Clackamas County arrested Busschau on July 27, 1993, for the alleged molestation of five girls between the ages of 10 and 15." 

"At that time, he faced state charges in Clackamas County for first-degree sexual penetration with a foreign object; first-degree sexual abuse; third-degree sodomy; third-degree rape; and third-degree sexual abuse."

The sex offender went to the US in 1989 and had managed to obtain legal permanent resident status.

The spokesperson for the Minister of International Relations and Co-Operation, Chrispin Phiri, told IOL: "If a South African citizen is deported from another country, what happens to them depends on whether they have served a sentence in that country. The Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Justice, Constitutional Development, as well as Correctional Services, advise on the technical aspects."

Another South African, Simon Gous, described by ICE as being a 'criminal alien' was apprehended by law enforcement in Denver, Colorado, on Monday.  He is also expected to be deported to South Africa.

"He has arrests for driving under the influence (DUI), the use of a weapon to commit a felony, and terroristic threats. He will remain in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings," ICE said.

In Los Angeles, California, David George Thomas was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and is accused of attempting to enter the country illegally.

"Thomas illegally entered the United States without inspection and has criminal convictions for domestic violence and multiple DUIs," said HSI.

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