More Unravelling At Bail Application Of Bester's Co-Accused

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BLOEMFONTIEN: A lot more mysteries unfold regarding Bester’s prison escape.

Over the past few weeks, more evidence emerged during the bail application of Thabo Bester’s co-accused at Bloemfontein Magistrate Court, Free State Province.

In 2012, Bester was convicted of one count of murder and several counts of rape. He preyed on unsuspecting women on Facebook. The man dubbed the ‘Facebook rapist,’ also preyed on people especially women, who had invested in his online scheme.

On the 3rd of May 2022, allegedly aided by his girlfriend and the celebrity doctor and six other co-accused, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, including her Zolile Sekeleni, he escaped from Mangaung prison. The convicted murderer then fled from the prison after a corpse later identified as that of Katleho Bereng had burnt in his prison cell.

Following an expose of his escape by Ground Up, an online investigative news outlet, it emerged that Bereng’s corpse had been charred inside the prison. Bereng who was an ardent supporter of the defunct Bloemfontein Celtic football club, had gone missing in April 2022.

Having been a fugitive from justice for nearly a year, Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania, alongside a Mozambican identified as Zacharia Alberto, in possession of fake passports. The fugitive couple were extradited from the neighbouring country to face the music, along with their accomplices.

Last week on Friday, the state arraigned yet another alleged accomplice by the name of Teboho Lipholo, a former G4S CCTV footage operator, for aiding Bester, alias Thapelo ‘TK’ Nkwana to escape from prison. G4S managed the Mangaung prison where Bester was serving his sentence. Earlier last month, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) terminated its contract with G4S, which was due to expire in 2026.

Bester had allegedly promised Lipholo a whopping R2.5 million to help him in escaping from prison. However, Lipholo who switched off cameras during the escape saga only received R40 000 from his co-accused and former prison guard, Senohe Matsoara. Lipholo revealed all this information about Bester’s escape and the roles played by his other fellow accused, namely Tieho Makotsa, Senohe Matsora and Natassja Jansen.

If his revelation is anything to go by, then there is still more to be unravelled during his bail application hearing and those of his fellow accused.

The bail application will continue on Friday the 19th of May. Incidentally, Magudumana has thus far abandoned hers.