Here’s a tricky question for all you would-be criminals out there: you’re handed a 15-year-sentence at Westville Prison, do you A) report for duty and take it on the chin or B) run for the hills and disappear into thin air?

Shock, horror, Rajiv Narandas has chosen option B, the man convicted of the 2008 murder of 32-year-old Veenand Singh outside Shoukara nightclub in Sandton failing to arrive last week at the prison.

TimesLive below:

On Tuesday‚ his mother – who fuelled speculation that Narandas had fled the country with a WhatsApp status – said she wasn’t available for comment. She said “try tomorrow” before disconnecting the call.

Her status‚ “Don’t cry for me Argentina‚ the truth is I never left you” accompanied by a smiley‚ and the image of a newspaper poster “Where is Rajiv?” remained unchanged since she updated it on Sunday night.

KwaZulu-Natal police are not working on tracking down Narandas as his crime and conviction occurred in Gauteng.

But Gauteng police on Tuesday referred queries to the Department of Correctional Services.

“Unfortunately we are unable to assist you as this matter is with Correctional services. Please speak to them‚” said Colonel Noxolo Kweza.

The Department of Correctional Services and the National Prosecuting Authority failed to respond to queries about whether authorities were searching for Narandas.

Maybe they don’t want to catch him – just check how ripped this boet is. And those tribal tatts on the back and bicep, you really are unique Rajiv:

Great game of pass the buck going on here from a legal side, who the hell is actually going to take responsibility for tracking the convicted murderer down? A private investigator called Rick Crouch believes it shouldn’t even be all that hard:

“There are traits common to all fugitives and there are specific traits that make some easier than others to locate. Narandas falls into the category that will make him easier than most to locate.

“The odds are very slim that the fugitive is in Argentina‚ which has been speculated‚” said Crouch.

He said the disappearance of Narandas had exposed glaring holes in the justice system.

“A person arrested and or convicted of a serious crime such as murder should never be afforded the opportunity of bail either before trial or while awaiting any appeal. There is a huge incentive for these individuals to flee considering the penalty awaiting them‚” said Crouch.

At last, someone talking sense. An update from IOL says his whereabouts might not be all that mysterious:

A source at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Correctional Services said the Hawks had been instructed to “get the paperwork in order” so that Narandas could be imprisoned.

Authorities were under pressure after media speculation that Narandas had fled to Argentina to escape his prison sentence, the source said.

“Rajiv was convicted and sentenced in Johannesburg. Under normal circumstances he should be serving his time at a correctional facility there. But it is clear that his family is very influential and managed to get him transferred to Westville Prison, which is close to his home,” said the source.

“However, for this to happen, all the paperwork needs to be in order. This is not the case, therefore authorities at Westville Prison cannot accept him.”

The source said police would have to get the paperwork finalised.

So it’s either a case of the criminal system screwing up and letting him turn down the chance to be imprisoned OR the criminal system screwing up his paperwork.

Either way you can only shake your head.

[sources:timeslive&iol]