State witness: No evidence of payment to accused in Thabo Bester’s prison escape

An investigating officer, who is part of the team handling the case of Thabo Bester‘s audacious prison escape, has acknowledged that one of the former G4S employees accused of assisting in the escape was not paid a cent for her alleged involvement.

Thabo Bester prison escape

The bail hearing of former G4S employees Senohe Matsoara, Buti (Motenyane John) Masukela, Tieho Frans Makhotsa and Nastassja Jansen, as well as Integriton CCTV technician, Teboho James Lipholo, resumed on Friday in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.

The group faces multiple charges for allegedly aiding and abetting the prison escape of the convicted rapist and murderer from the G4S-run Mangaung Correctional Centre in May last year.

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Bester escaped from the prison after it was initially believed that he had died by suicide after setting himself alight in his cell. An investigation revealed that the charred body that was used as a decoy in the escape was that of Free State resident Katlego Bereng.

Cross-examination

During cross-examination by defense lawyer Gary Botha, acting on behalf of former G4S control room operator Nastassja Jansen, the police officer was questioned on whether the single mother of two was paid money for her alleged involvement in the crime.

The officer, whose identity cannot be disclosed, is the state’s key witness in the bail hearing. He previously told the court that there was evidence linking the accused to the daring prison escape, and detailed the specific roles each individual played in the incident.

Botha asked him: “Colonel do you agree with me that you don’t have any proof that applicant number five [Jansen] received money from a person with the name TK [one of Bester’s many aliases]”.

The police officer said in response: “Yes, I do not have such proof”.

‘The state is riding a dead horse’

In his bail argument, Botha emphasised that Jansen did not have a passport, had no prior criminal convictions, and her confirmed address provided additional assurance.

“It is my instructions from applicant number five [Jansen] that the state doesn’t have a prima facie case against her and the state is riding a dead horse,” he contended.

Jansen is facing charges of arson, assisting an inmate to escape and defeating the ends of justice. She intends to plead not guilty to the charges.

Role in Bester’s prison escape

According to the state’s allegations, the 35-year-old is believed to have played a significant role in executing Bester’s final escape plan.

On the day of the escape, it is alleged that she was on duty in the control room alongside her colleague and co-accused, Tieho Frans Makhotsa.

It is alleged that Jansen used electronic means to open and close specific doors at Mangaung Correctional Centre to help Bester escape.

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