Bail hearing of five accused in Thabo Bester escape to continue

The bail hearing of the five suspects accused of helping Thabo Bester escape from prison will continue on Friday in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.

Thabo Bester prison escape

The accused, including four former G4S employees, are accused of allegedly aiding and abetting the prison escape of the convicted rapist and murderer from the G4S-run Mangaung Correctional Centre in May last year.

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Former G4S employees Senohe Matsoara, Buti (Motenyane John) Masukela, Tieho Frans Makhotsa and Nastassja Jansen as well as Integriton CCTV technician, Teboho James Lipholo, are all applying for bail for their alleged role in the prison escape saga.

The state is opposing their bail applications.

Cross-examination

The court proceedings will resume on Friday, with the continuation of the cross-examination of a state witness. This witness, an investigating officer whose identity cannot be disclosed, will be further questioned by the defence lawyers.

The witness implicated the accused in Bester’s escape and outlined the various roles each of them played.

During his testimony, the witness also claimed that releasing the accused on bail would likely result in unrest and the intimidation of other witnesses.

WATCH: Bail application for accused in Thabo Bester escape

Charges

The group faces multiple charges including fraud, defeating the ends of justice and assisting an inmate to escape from prison along with Bester, his alleged accomplice and girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, and her father, Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni.

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On Tuesday, Bester and Magudumana made a virtual appearance in court, and their case was postponed to 20 June to allow for further police investigations.

The pair were remanded in custody until then, while Sekeleni is out on R10 000 bail.

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