Gang leader 'Tiger' evades South African police after 78 mine deaths

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 20 (Reuters) - A suspected gang leader known as "Tiger" escaped with the help of South African police after being pulled from an illegal gold mine last week where at least 78 miners died, the police said on Monday.

The Lesotho national resurfaced from the deep mine shaft in Stilfontein while officers had it surrounded, and was supposed to be escorted directly to the nearest police station for detention, said national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe.

But during a routine inspection, a senior officer noticed "Tiger" was not in the holding cells, she told public broadcaster SABC.

"The only logical conclusion is that someone let him free," she said. "Preliminary investigations indicate that he was let go between Shaft 11 and the police station."

The police said in a statement that they had launched a manhunt and were investigating who within their forces might have assisted "Tiger". Three other suspected ringleaders are in custody, Mathe added.

Police were widely condemned for their months-long ...
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