Survivor confronts Iain Wares as extradition case delayed
Iain Wares is sought for extradition by UK authorities in connection with 90 charges involving 68 complainants linked to alleged offences in Scotland over a period of 11 to 12 years.
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A Scottish complainant who travelled to South Africa to confront former teacher Iain Wares says his “fear is turning to anger” after the extradition case, in which Wares appeared last week, was postponed in the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court due to the State advocate being ill.
Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) released a statement, quoting Roy Hurhangee speaking outside court.
“I came here to try and get some closure. Today was surreal. I was nervous and at one point I thought I was going to pass out,” he said.
Hurhangee said he made arrangements to attend proceedings and would return if necessary.
“I now know, if necessary, I will come back to see it through to the end. We’ll take what we can from that, get confirmed dates, and arrange to come back,” he said.
Wares is sought for extradition by UK authorities in connection with 90 charges involving 68 complainants linked to alleged offences in Scotland over a period of 11 to 12 years.
Hurhangee alleged he was abused between the ages of 10 and 12 while Wares was his teacher.
He described seeing Wares in court as a turning point.
“Seeing him now, my fear is turning to anger. The solitary confinement I’ve been in with this secret has changed, coming here and facing him in the ring so to speak, opposed to running away.”
“Watching him going through the judicial process now, will take me forward in a positive way, and we don’t regret coming.”
The matter was postponed to April 28.
WMACA representatives attended proceedings alongside three adult male complainants from the UK.
WMACA criticised the outcome and Wares’ continued release on bail.
“The fact that Wares again walked out of the court freely, while on bail as a convicted paedophile in a South African case, is incomprehensible,” the organisation said.
Wares was recently found guilty in the Wynberg Regional Court in a historic child abuse case, where the court accepted the complainant’s evidence despite a delay of 35 years and found that the State had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Wares remains on bail as the extradition proceedings continue.