Bloemfontein – A senior investigating officer probing the prison escape of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has died suddenly.
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Commenting on the officer’s death on Monday, ActionSA Free State Provincial Chairperson Patricia Kopane said the death of the senior investigator “under mysterious circumstances raises suspicions”.
He was the senior investigator in the prison escape case of convicted rapist and murderer Bester.
Bester – also known as the “Facebook Rapist” escaped from prison last year in May and was recently rearrested in Tanzania.
Several people including Bester’s partner Dr. Nandipha Magudumana have been arrested in connection with the prison escape.
Kopane said the death of the officer should be investigated by Police Minister General Bheki Cele and Police Commissioner Lt General Fannie Masemola, “so that South Africans can satisfy themselves that there was no foul play afoot appreciating the Hollywood-type twists and turns this saga has already taken”.
Kopane said this matter cannot be taken lightly, it needs to be treated with the urgency it deserves.
“If, indeed, foul play is detected, the state has a duty to ensure that other investigators and witnesses do not fall prey to the same fate as this officer,” said Kopane.
“ActionSA would like to extend its sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the slain officer.
“With every waking day, criminals seem to be conducting their criminal affairs without remorse or frustrate the case being built against him for which he must answer in due course.”
