The Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to four of the five people accused of helping convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester, escape from prison last year.
Verdict on bail
Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi on Monday delivered his judgment on the bail applications of former G4S employees Senohe Matsoara, Buti (Motenyane John) Masukela, Tieho Frans Makhotsa and Nastassja Jansen, and Integriton CCTV technician Teboho James Lipholo.
Magistrate Khabisi, in a decision to grant bail, approved a bail amount of R10 000 for Jansen, considering the state’s case against her was “porous”. However, the remaining four accused were denied bail due to the presence of prima facie evidence against them.
The magistrate reached a verdict on the case after hearing bail arguments earlier this month from the state, which objected to granting bail, as well as the defense lawyers.
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The state, among its arguments, contended that the accused were a flight risk and that their release on bail would endanger the safety of the public and witnesses. The state also argued that the accused would likely intimidate witnesses and interfere with the course of justice.
The defense, on the other hand, argued that their clients were not a flight risk and that they would not endanger the safety of the public or witnesses. The defense further argued that their clients had cooperated with the police investigation and that the state’s case was weak.
Thabo Bester prison escape
Bester escaped from G4S-run Mangaung Correctional Centre in May last year after it was initially believed that he had died 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.
The five accused face a range of charges, including fraud, arson, assisting an inmate to escape, and defeating the ends of justice in connection with Bester’s elaborate prison escape. The group intends not to plead guilty to the charges against them.
Earlier this month, Bester and his alleged accomplice and girlfriend Dr Nandipha Magudumana made virtual court appearances and their case was postponed to 20 June to allow for further police investigations.
Another accused in the case, Magudumana’s father, Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni, is currently out on R10 000 bail.
Magudumana is also challenging her arrest in Tanzania last month, claiming she was unlawfully arrested and abducted by South African authorities. That matter is due to be heard on Thursday in the Free State High Court.
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