Fannie Masemola, the national police commissioner, has denied reports about convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester’s that claimed he lost belongings following his arrest in Tanzania.

Bester’s lawyer testified on Tuesday, in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court that a number of things worth at least R29 million belonging to his client were stolen upon his arrival at the airport with his sweetheart Dr Nandipha Magudumana.

 

 

 

 
Masemola denied Bester’s allegations to the media in Johannesburg’s CBD on Saturday.

WHAT DID THE POLICE TAKE ACCORDING TO MASEMOLA?
According to the commissioner, police only grabbed two phones and a laptop from Bester on the day he landed.

“Police confiscated two cellphones and a laptop upon arrival at Lanseria Airport.” That is what we know and are aware of. “On his arrival, the Department of Home Affairs gave us his only property,” he explained.

Masemola said that the police were aware that the South African delegation that traveled to Tanzania was told by Tanzanian officials that Bester paid a lawyer with watches rather than money.

“We are aware that the Tanzanian police told the delegation that went to Tanzania that Bester did pay a lawyer in Tanzania with watches.

“We don’t know how many, but he paid the lawyer with watches, so why would he pay with watches instead of cash?” said Masemola.

THABO BESTER’S CASE
On 3 May 2022, Bester escaped from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein after faking his death in a staged jail cell fire.

After escaping South Africa, the convict and Magudumana were caught in Arusha on 7 April.

So far, twelve people have been charged in connection with the prison breakout, including Bester and Magudumana.

After their case was postponed for further investigation, the suspects will return to court on 11 October 2023.