A special squad has been set up to find a guilty man against whom there is a warrant of arrest. While the police are still searching, the man walks freely and tells his story to journalists. But the police are still looking for him.

Manan Fakoo, found guilty of possession of offensive weapons, giving instructions to commit a crime, and two counts of assault was arrested in 1998 and convicted in 2001 on three counts. He was to spend three years in jail but the sentence was suspended when Fakoo decided to appeal against it. The appeal was subsequently quashed and a warrant of arrest was issued on September 12th 2006. Fakoo has been wanted ever since. According to police sources ? confirmed by the PM in Parliament, Fakoo is still absconding. ?But he will not be absconding for ever,? added Navin Ramgoolam.

Steps, PM further added, had been taken to find him, including the setting up of a special unit. So far to no avail. At least that?s the official part of the story. But, merely a few hours after the PM gave this information in Parliament, in reply to a Private Notice Question, a private radio station managed to lay their hands on the absconding convict and interview him. The country heard the pathetic plea of a man, wanted by the police, but affirming he was resisting arrest because he was physically unwell.

Since then, Fakoo?s story, bearing his testimony, has been splashed on the front pages of practically all the newspapers in the country.

PM Ramgoolam, unnerved by the situation, has summoned police commissioner Ramanooj Gopalsingh for explanations.

Manan Fakoo is still absconding?