Herman Harker, who the police termed a serial rapist, was sentenced for four counts of abduction and sexual assault.

"The investigating officer's diligence and hard work supported by the Forensic Service Laboratory's evidence collected at the other crime scenes and from the rape and sexual assault survivors revealed that Harker was wanted on five more cases of rape, abduction and sexual assault," she added.

"All the cases that was linked to Harker were then transferred to the detective services' Serial and Electronic FCS Investigation [SECI], which is a specialised section within the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences.

Detective Warrant Officer Ernest Villet was tasked with the duty of ensuring that the police sent a watertight case to court as well as preparing witnesses for the trial," Muridili said.

"The concrete foundation laid by the investigating officers enabled SECI to take forward a watertight evidence-based docket to court and that has ensured this hefty sentence imposed on this serial rapist, Harker.