A man accused of rape who escaped from a holding cell at a Be'er Sheva courthouse Monday has been apprehended by police.

30-year old Avi Kotashvilli had been jailed for a year and two months when he arrived at the Be'er Sheva District Court for a hearing on a property offense as well as rape charges. According to his attorney, Esther Bar-Zion, he was not handcuffed, and had exited through a buzzer-operated door.

The deputy police chief of the Negev district said Monday that Kotashvilli's escape was a grave error on the part of the police.

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In November 2006, convicted rapist Benny Sela escaped from the custody of a Tel Aviv police escort unit en route to a hearing at a city courthouse. Sela was recaptured two weeks later. The search for Sela had cost a total of NIS 36 million.