The Varkala police on Sunday arrested a rape case accused 18 years after the crime had taken place.
The accused, identified as Azad, 51, of Moundmukku in Varkala, was apprehended in connection with the gang rape of a woman in December 2001.
He along with other accused Nizarudeen, Yusuf and Noushad of Vettoor, allegedly broke into the victim’s house and gang raped her at knife-point.
The gang had also purportedly taken images, which they used to extort money from the victim.
Following the incident, Azad had fled from the country and has ever since being working in various countries including Jordan and Azerbaijan.
He was apprehended by the police on the basis of an information that he has returned to his native place. The accused was remanded to judicial custody.
While Yusuf and Noushad had been nabbed soon after the crime, Nizarudeen continued to be absconding, the police said.