Man accused of rape may have fled Scotland for Asia after missing court in Glasgow

A rape suspect may have fled Scotland for the Philippines after missing his trial in Glasgow.

Connor Sliman, 21, was due to face the charges at the High Court last week.

The charges include allegations the man raped two teenage girls in 2020 and 2021 in his hometown of Stenhousemuir, Stirlingshire.

However, Sliman did not attend the hearing.

His lawyer, Laura-Anne Radcliffe, said Sliman’s legal team did not know exactly where he was.

Prosecutor Eric Robertson went on to say the suspect had recently been staying with a relative.

“She said he is no longer there and has gone to the Philippines where his father lives,” Mr Robertson said.

“I asked for investigations to be carried out and there is police information that he took a flight to the Philippines in February 2024.”

The prosecutor added: “He had a return ticket but he didn’t use it.

“Checks were made (earlier this month) and apparently as of that date he was not in this country.

“There is a very clear picture that he did not attend this hearing.”

Mr Robertson applied for an arrest warrant for Sliman, although he asked for the charge to be kept “alive” due to other information that Sliman may be “raising funds” to return to the UK.

Lord Fairley said: “I am satisfied that a warrant should be granted.”

The case is expected to be updated at another hearing in November.

Among the nine charges Sliman faces is that he raped a teenage girl at a premises in Stenhousemuir.

This includes an allegation that he restrained her by holding her around the neck and body.

He is also accused of raping another teenager on Christmas Eve 2020 in a forest in the city.

The allegations in this indictment include an allegation that he tore and removed her underwear and also grabbed her by the arms.

Sliman faces a separate charge of sexually assaulting the same girl on multiple occasions.