A landlord suspected of rape has fled Britain for Cameroon after police allowed him to keep his passport while he remained under investigation.
Ndumbe Achile Ndumbe, 41, is believed to have flown from Manchester Airport to the African country in January despite having previously been arrested on suspicion of rape.
Mr Ndumbe was on police bail when he left the country and is now being sought by officers, according to The Times.
Police are understood to be working with authorities in Cameroon in an attempt to locate him and bring him back to Britain.
Mr Ndumbe owed taxpayers an estimated £200,000 after falsely claiming up to £180,000 in housing benefit and being hit with more than £26,000 in penalties over properties he owned.
He was arrested by Greater Manchester Police in July 2024, when officers seized electronic devices including a phone, laptop and camcorder.
After examining the devices, investigators are said to have found evidence of possible sexual offences involving other women and widened their investigation.
However, Mr Ndumbe was allowed to retain his passport despite evidence that he had previously travelled between Britain and Cameroon.
Ndumbe Achile Ndumbe, 41, is believed to have flown from Manchester Airport to the African country in January
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A source close to the investigation told The Times: “There was evidence he had made previous trips between the UK and Cameroon.
“He should never have been allowed to keep his passport and leave the country while on bail over a rape complaint.”
Another inquiry source said the case highlighted “multiple failures in the system” involving police, border authorities and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Mr Ndumbe has not been charged with or convicted of rape and remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, sources suggested that Mr Ndumbe was claiming up to £200 a month in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) while outside Britain for mental health problems and a “bad back”.
The 41-year-old was arrested by Greater Manchester Police in July 2024, with officers seizing his electronic devices
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The DWP said PIP can continue for 13 weeks after a claimant leaves the UK, but refused to say whether Mr Ndumbe continued receiving payments while abroad.
The 41-year-old had also managed six houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) across Greater Manchester.
Two properties he controlled in Leigh were operated without the required HMO licences, resulting in financial penalties totalling £26,486.
Mr Ndumbe challenged the penalties, but the First-tier Tribunal upheld fines of £12,243 and £14,243 after finding beyond reasonable doubt that he had committed the licensing offences.
The tribunal heard that Mr Ndumbe denied the properties met the definition of HMOs and argued that Wigan Council had acted without sufficient evidence.
Mr Ndumbe is said to be claiming up to £200 a month in PIP while outside Britain for mental health problems and a ‘bad back’
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Separate investigations found that Mr Ndumbe had not fully declared his assets when applying for housing benefit.
The DWP subsequently obtained a proceeds of crime order against him in an attempt to recoup £180,000 in benefit payments.
Mr Ndumbe’s LinkedIn profile says that he moved to Britain in 2007 and later worked as a mental health nurse for the NHS.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council confirmed that Mr Ndumbe is not currently registered as a nurse, midwife or nursing associate.
Greater Manchester Police said: “Detectives investigating reports of rape have arrested a suspect who remains under investigation and inquiries are actively continuing.
“Specialist agencies continue to provide the victims with support.”