James Neo Tshoaeli, the alleged ringleader of an illegal gold mining operation, escaped police custody shortly after being rescued from a mine in South Africa. He is accused of torture and starvation of fellow miners. Authorities are investigating police complicity in his escape as community concerns grow over potential undiscovered bodies underground. The rescue operation previously uncovered 246 survivors and 78 bodies from the mine but has since been called off, raising fears that others may remain trapped.