EXCLUSIVE: Keven Appo has been seen playing rugby league in his home country of Papua New Guinea, despite facing extradition to the UK where he has been charged with rape and sexual assault
An international rugby league star is still on the run a year after fleeing the UK to avoid facing sexual assault charges in the UK – and is playing the sport again.
Ex-Bradford Bulls backrower Keven Appo, 27, flew home to Papua New Guinea just hours after being granted unconditional bail by West Yorkshire Police in November 2024.
He was due to appear in court last January, charged with rape, sexual assault and two counts of assault, but magistrates in Bradford were told he had fled the country and an extradition process had been started.
Papua New Guinea is a Commonwealth country so it has an extradition agreement with the UK and he should be transported back to face his charges by law.
But a year on, the Daily Star can exclusively reveal he has not returned to the UK and is back playing rugby league, which is the national sport in Papua New Guinea. A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson told us: “There’s no update currently.”
Pictures posted to social media show the former Kumuls international playing for Lisapeka Bulldogs in the Ipatas Cup, the premier off-season competition in the country.
It sees eight provincial teams compete in a knockout tournament with prize money of 100,000 Kina, around £17,473.
A total of 64 teams battled in the regional qualifiers, and the eight provincial winners took their place in the three-day knockout competition, held in Lae in the Morobe Province.
Appo’s team – champions of the Eastern Highlands Province – had made it through the final, where they lost 30-14 to Kulaka West of Jiwaka Province. Photos on social media show Appo in action during the tournament.
Appo is a celebrity in his home country and he does not appear to have tried to keep a low profile since his return. Last year, he led the funeral service for his father and former league player Jackson Appo and delivered a heartfelt speech to hundreds of mourners.
And in May, he was seen in family snaps posted to social media, making high-profile public appearances and even posing for photos with local police after his cousin was sworn in to the local council.
Appo made his debut for Papua New Guinea in the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup, which was held in England in 2022, and joined the Bulls in 2023.
West Yorkshire Police announced he had been charged with the offences, and he was due to appear at Bradford Magistrates’ Court last January, but never showed up.
The court heard he was bailed at 4pm on November 26, 2024, and had boarded a flight from Manchester Airport at 8.40pm that night. He had given his house and car keys to the manager of the rugby club, it was heard.
In a statement, the club, which will compete in Super League in 2026, previously said it had “cancelled Keven Appo’s playing contract”. West Yorkshire Police said Appo was charged after an investigation into a report made in April 2024.
After it was reported he was on the run, Appo wrote on social media: “There’s always two sides to a coin. The accusations made are false accusations/allegations based on personal gain/interest.
“I will not go further into details due to personal reasons, but only God knows the truth. I also would like to clarify that the statement made that I was SACKED/TERMINATED was incorrectly stated.
“I was released upon my request earlier due to other interest, not that my contract was terminated following the recent speculations. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and I respect that. Until then, I will make no further comments.”
In January last year, Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko admitted the situation was an ’embarrassment’.
He said: “Everybody must follow the laws of the country that they are living in, or that they’re working in or that they’re visiting.
“This puts embarrassment on our country as well, that this fellow Papua New Guinean is trying to deviate from the rules of law.”
But despite this, acting Police Commissioner Donald Yamasombi claimed the UK authorities had not made any extradition requests.
“Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary has not received any formal requests of extradition from the UK authorities,” he said.
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