Police say they are following leads in the search for a man said to have assaulted and robbed a Dutch couple. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post
A 25-year-old man has been arrested and charged over the attack on two Dutch tourists in Southland yesterday
The 25-year-old man and 22-year-old woman were staying at the Tuatapere camping ground, west of Invercargill, when the man entered their car at 6.40am.
He raped the woman at knifepoint
and stole a "large amount of cash", Detective Sergeant David Nelson said.
The man has been charged with rape and will be facing a number of other charges Mr Nelson said.
The two tourists were asleep in the vehicle at Five Mountains Holiday Park in Tuatapere, west of Invercargill, when the offender entered their vehicle and threatened them with a knife early on Thursday morning, Detective Sergeant David Nelson said.
Police originally said the woman was sexually assaulted but did not reveal the full extent of the attack.
The accused will appear in Invercargill District Court tomorrow.
The incident echoed the 2006 attack on a honeymooning Dutch couple while staying in a campervan in the Bay of Islands.
Keith McEwen and Christopher Manuel knocked on their door wearing reflective vests in an attempt to look like policemen.
McEwen then produced a shotgun, held it under the man's chin and demanded money.
The couple were handcuffed and gagged and the woman was raped inside the campervan while Manuel stood guard over the man outside.
More than $900 was taken from the couple's bank account using their bank card and the PIN number they had been forced to reveal.
Six hours after the attack began, the couple were dropped in a field and were able to raise the alarm.
McEwen received a sentence of preventive detention and Manuel was jailed for nine years.
- NZPA
