Bloemfontein – Two suspects linked to rearrested Thabo Bester’s prison escape have been arrested in South Africa.
The pair was nabbed after the fugitive “Facebook Rapist”, his partner Dr. Nandipha Magudumana and Mozambique national Zakaria Alberto were arrested in Tanzania on Friday.
RELATED: SA Confirms Arrest Of Fugitives Thabo Bester, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana – The Bulrushes
Dubbed the “Facebook Rapist” because he used the social media platform to lure his victims, Bester had been convicted of rape and murder.
The 35-year-old inmate was serving a life sentence, plus 25 years when faked his own death as part of an elaborate prison escape in May last year.
Bester escaped from the Mangaung Prison, which is managed by the private company G4S.
RELATED: Department Of Correctional Service Admits Thabo Bester Escaped From Jail – The Bulrushes
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the SA Police Service national spokesperson on Monday said: “A 39year-old former G4S employee and a 65-year-old man from Port Edward, in the Eastern Cape” were arrested in connection with the prison break that involved a dead body being set alight in Bester’s cell.
The 65-year-old man is thought to be the father of Dr. Magudumana, who is wanted by the police for aiding Bester’s escape.
The arrested pair are expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Tuesday, (11 April 2023).
Brigadier Mathe said the multi-disciplinary team investigating Bester’s escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre arrested the duo over the past weekend.
“The former G4S employee was arrested at his residence in Bloemfontein on Saturday, (8 April 2023), while the 65-year-old man was arrested on Friday, (7 April 2023) at his home in Port Edward,” said Brigadier Mathe.
“Both suspects have been charged with aiding and abetting a convicted prisoner to escape from lawful custody.”
Meanwhile, the delegation led by the SAPS’ Deputy National Commissioner responsible for Policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, has arrived in Arusha, Tanzania.
“The team is currently engaged with their Tanzanian counterparts to finalise all legal processes required towards bringing escapee Thabo Bester and his accomplices to justice in South Africa,” said Brigadier Mathe.
“The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola has welcomed the latest arrests and confirmed that the possibility of more arrests could not be ruled out.
“General Masemola has again reiterated the appeal to media and the public to exercise patience and allow the investigators the space to conduct the investigations with no undue pressure and expectation.”
