Annanias Mathe, Mozambican criminal, Died at 40

  Criminal

Annanias Mathe (sometimes reported as Ananias Mathe) was born in 1976, and died on December 27, 2016.

He was a notorious serial rapist and armed robber from Mozambique.

Mathe achieved further notoriety in 2006 by being the only person to have ever escaped from the maximum high-security C-Max Penitentiary in Pretoria, South Africa.

He was initially arrested on 51 counts of murder, attempted murder, rape, hijacking and armed robbery in November 2006.

At the he was being detained in the A6 ward of C-Max Penitentiary which houses dangerous and hardened criminals, Mathe managed to escape by smearing himself with petroleum jelly and sliding out of his cell window, measuring only 20 cm x 60 cm.

His daring escape led the South African press to dub him ‘Houdini’.

He had escaped from police custody before, previously in April 2005.

Mathe’s last escape prompted a nationwide manhunt, the events of which were closely monitored by local media.

He was re-arrested on December 4, 2006 (about two weeks after his escape), when he hijacked a car in the affluent Johannesburg suburb of Craighall.

But, what Mathe did not know was the vehicle was fitted with a satellite tracking device, which led police and private security companies to Mathe after a chase which saw him being shot three times in the leg and buttocks.

He was found guilty on 64 of 71 charges including rape, attempted rape, attempted murder, robbery and theft, and was sentenced to 54 years imprisonment with a minimum of 43 years.

There were six prison wardens linked to his latest escape were dismissed.

He died in prison.

Annanias Mathe passed away at 40 years old.