Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester during his appearance before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on 14 April 2023. Picture: Twitter/ @Chriseldalewis
The five former G4S employees accused of aiding and abetting Thabo Bester in his prison escape, will reappear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court, alongside Bester, Dr Nandipha Magudumana and Zolile Sekeleni, on Tuesday 16 May.
Bester, however, will not be making his court appearance in the flesh…
This after the Department of Corrections Services (DCS) applied last week for Bester to have a virtual appearance due to security risk concerns.
According to a Tweet by eNCA reporter Silindelo Masikane, acting Chief Magistrate Lindiwe Mbassa has confirmed Bester’s virtual court appearance.
eNCA further reported that sources claim there were concerns about the security risks posed by transporting Bester from Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility, in Pretoria, to court.
After the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has dropped the murder charge against Bester and his girlfriend, Magudumana, the convicted criminal is still facing multiple charges, including fraud, defeating the ends of justice, escaping, and violating a body.
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The bail hearing of former G4S guards Senohe Matsoara, Motenyani Masukela, Tieho Makhotsa, and Natassja Jansen, as well as Integritron Integrated Solutions technician Teboho Lipholo, was postponed until Tuesday for further evidence and cross-examination of police witness Tieho Flyman.
The police evidence was presented over a two-day period on Thursday and Friday last week.
GroundUp reported on Flyman’s testimony on how Bareng‘s body was smuggled into Mangaung Correctional Centre, as well as how thousands of rand changed hands before and after the escape on 3 May 2022.
The 30-year-old Katlego Bereng’s body was set alight in Bester’s prison cell to fake the Facebook rapist’s death.
ALSO READ: Money talked and Thabo Bester walked: Witness reveals insider info
Magudumana was the only one of the accused who provisionally abandoned her bail application on Thursday, as reported by The Citizen.
This after her lawyer, Adv Frans Dlamini, indicated that “new information” has come to light.
The five co-accused indicated last week that they intend to plead not guilty.
Sekeleni made a brief appearance alongside his daughter, Magudumana, on 17 April. He was released on R10 000 bail.
The 65-year-old father of the disgraced doctor has been charged with defeating the ends of justice, aiding and abetting a prisoner to escape and fraud in the sensational prison escape saga which has gripped South Africans.
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