CHENNAI: A convicted American paedophile who jumped parole and fled to Asia is expected to be sent back to the United States in the coming days, Indian police said on Thursday.

Alan Jay Horowitz, a former Jewish rabbi and child psychiatrist, had served 15 years in jail for abusing children before he fled the country last year. He was arrested at a south Indian beach resort in May. “Mr. Horowitz may be deported in less than a week,” a police official said that the order for the extradition had been received from India's foreign ministry.

“We will be coordinating the operation with the US Consulate General at Chennai,” the official said. Looking tired and depressed, Horowitz was seen by reporters on Wednesday as he was shifted to a special high-security detention camp near the southern city of Chennai.

“I had to flee because I feared for my life,” he said in brief comments to reporters. “Can you talk about your actions 17 years back? I have always been a good man... I have nothing to look forward to. There is just nothing for me,” the 60-year-old also said.—AFP