Thabo Bester ‘begged’ for his life after being arrested by Tanzanian authorities

A Tanzanian source has told The Citizen that convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester pleaded for his life after he was arrested by authorities in Tanzania.

Bester and his lover Dr Nandipha Magadumana were arrested two weeks ago on Friday, the 7th of April about 10km out of Arusha in the east African country after fleeing the hotel they were staying in.

Arrests

They were arrested alongside a Mozambican called Zacharia Alberto, believed to be the driver who helped them cross different borders during their escape.

ALSO READ: Thabo Bester: ‘Dr Nandipha said she was being held against her will’

During the dramatic arrest, the couple was found with several passports – with multiple identities – in their possession after being nine months on the run from authorities who were tracking their movement.

According to the highly-placed source, after Bester and Magadumana fled the hotel with their luggage in tow, they sped off in a black vehicle – identified as a public transport vehicle.

Don’t kill me

“Police gave chase and the public transport vehicle was cornered ten kilometres out of Arusha. Police told them to get out of the vehicle and Bester said: ‘Don’t kill me’.

“Nandipha was wearing Islamic clothing and when the burka (head covering) was removed, she held her head in her hands and was crying,” the source said.

The source said Bester was found with documents that identified him as Tommy William Kelly, an American citizen, while Magudumana assumed the name Martha Patience Mmerika Nitshini, a registered doctor. 

Dr Pashy

Ntshani, popularly known as Dr Pashy, is an anaesthetist based in Pretoria.

The celebrity doctor confirmed to The Citizen on Friday that she has opened a case against Bester and Magudumana for fraud, forgery, theft and uttering.

Earlier this month, The Citizen revealed that Magudumana was found in possession of two original passports in the name of Dr Pashy during her arrest.

RELATED: Thabo Bester: ‘Nandipha Magudumana not pregnant’ – Source

Bester and Magudumana arrived back in South Africa on Thursday 13 April after a delegation consisting of the Department of Justice and police officials departed for the East African country to bring the fugitives back to face trial for the crimes they committed.

Bester escaped from the G4S-run Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) in Bloemfontein in May 2022 after it was initially believed he had committed suicide by setting himself alight in his cell.

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