Johannesburg – A ninth person has been arrested in connection with the prison escape of “Facebook Rapist” and murderer Thabo Bester, who was re-arrested in April in Tanzania.
Bester’s escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre last year in May is the subject of ongoing police investigations that have so far resulted in the arrest of nine suspects.
RELATED: SAPS Launches Manhunt For Escaped ‘Facebook Rapist’ Thabo Bester – The Bulrushes
The elaborate escape involved setting alight a body in Bester’s cell. The rapist and murderer was, according to evidence led in court, assisted to walk out of the prison wearing a G4S uniform.
The dead person has since been identified as Katlego Mpholo.
RELATED: Thabo Bester Escape: Charred Body Was Katlego Mpholo, Family Distraught – The Bulrushes
More than a decade ago, Bester used Facebook to lure his victims with claims that international modelling scouts were interested in them.
He would then rape them and rob them using a knife. He also murdered at least one of his victims.
Bester, who was convicted in 2012, was serving a life sentence when he was assisted to escape.
Since Bester’s re-arrest in Tanzania, earlier this year in April, the list of people arrested for allegedly assisting Bester to escape continues to grow.
RELATED: SA Confirms Arrest Of Fugitives Thabo Bester, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana – The Bulrushes
Among those arrested is Bester’s partner, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, her 65-year-old dad Zolile Sekeleni and several G4S employees and former employees.
Police on Sunday said they have arrested a 31- year-old Zimbabwean man regarding the Bester escape.
“The suspect was arrested on Sunday morning in Johannesburg. At this stage, he faces a charge of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody,” said Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
“The suspect is likely to face more charges. Nine people have so far been arrested in this case.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court on Tuesday, (13 June 2023).
Brigadier Mathe said the possibility of the police arresting more suspects cannot be ruled out.
In a strange twist, the senior investigator in the Bester escape xxx took his own life on Monday, (5 June 2023).
RELATED: Thabo Bester Investigator Brigadier Jackson Mkhaulesi Committed Suicide – The Bulrushes
