An investigation by the Department of Correctional Services has found that the charred body found after a fire at Mangaung Free State’s private prison was not that of murderer and rapist Thabo Bester.
The department said all evidence points to Bester escaping from jail on May 3, 2022, and a manhunt has been launched to find him.
“Critical at this stage is to locate Thabo Bester. DCS is appealing to the public to help with any information that may lead to Bester’s re-arrest.
‘Facebook rape’
Bester, nicknamed the Facebook rapist after a string of robberies, rapes and even murders, was sentenced to 50 years in prison by the Durban Magistrate’s Court in 2011.
He is 23 years old.
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It appeared recently that Bester was alive despite being declared dead by the department after a body was found in a Mangaung prison cell outside Bloemfontein in May last year.
Where was he last seen
His apparently daring escape and faking his own death has caused a social media frenzy, with many wondering who died and was burned in the cell.
Sporting long hair and sunglasses, Bester was spotted shopping with celebrity medical doctor Nandipha Magudumana at Woolworths in Sandton City almost two months after he reportedly died in prison.
According to GroundUp, Bester ran a multi-million rand scam media company called 21st Century Media from his prison cell, even tricking guests at a launch in Sandton when he called to tackle him in a suit.
Unforgettable guests even sang happy birthday songs.
Meanwhile, the government’s official version is that Bester set himself in a cell.
The body found in Bester’s prison cell had died before the fire, according to GroundUp.
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