The five former employees of security company G4S, who are accused of assisting Thabo Bester in his prison escape, are scheduled to appear alongside Bester, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, and Zolile Sekeleni at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 16 May 2022.
Thabo Bester back in court, but virtually – Here’s why
As reported by eNCA, Bester’s court appearance will be conducted virtually due to security concerns raised by the Department of Corrections Services (DCS).
In a court application filed last week, the corrections service listed several reasons why Bester should participate in Tuesday’s court proceedings remotely, including the risks involved in transporting the convicted murderer from Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility in Pretoria to Bloemfontein.
The department also anticipated Bester’s court appearance will likely be brief and making the 450km drive, with all the accompanying high-level checks and balances, would be a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Although the murder charge against Bester and his girlfriend Magudumana has been dropped by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the convicted Facebook rapist still faces multiple charges, including fraud, obstruction of justice, escape, and desecration of a body.
How to watch Dr Nandipha and co-accused live in court on Tuesday, 16 May 2023
The bail hearing for the former G4S guards Senohe Matsoara, Motenyani Masukela, Tieho Makhotsa, Natassja Jansen, and Teboho Lipholo from Integritron Integrated Solutions will resume on Tuesday.
Police witness Tieho Flyman is expected back on the witness stand for a gruelling day of cross-examination from the defence. The media will likely not be allowed to broadcast this aspect of Tuesday’s proceedings.
At his last appearance, Flyman provided police evidence detailing how Bereng’s body was smuggled into Mangaung Correctional Centre and the financial transactions that occurred before and after the escape on 3 May 2022.
Magudumana, the only accused who provisionally abandoned her bail application, made this decision after her lawyer, Adv Frans Dlamini, cited the emergence of “new information.”
The five co-accused have expressed their intention to plead not guilty to the charges brought against them.
Proceedings are scheduled to kick off at 09:00. You can tune into the Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha court appearance live below.
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