Rapist who faked his death to avoid prison demands his death in court

A convicted murderer known as the “Facebook Rapist” who escaped prison after faking his own death has asked a court to execute him.

Thabo Bester was initially sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 for rape, murder and robbery after a court learned that he had lured his victims to their deaths by posing as a modeling agent.

But in May 2022, he managed to escape after his girlfriend, star doctor Nandipha Magudumana, helped him plan his gruesome prison break in South Africa using a charred corpse from the morgue.

The couple were arrested in April 2023 after being tracked down to a hideout in Tanzania.

A leaked document from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) then revealed that Bester was one of the leaders of the organised group at the Mangaung Correctional Centre.

According to local media, the document said the gang “sold drugs and mobile phones, carried out ‘boy-wife’ activities (facilitating sex between prisoners), money laundering and prostitution.”

In his most recent court appearance, Bester called on the state’s Supreme Court to execute him.

According to local media reports, he appeared in the dock on Wednesday, June 5, representing himself after his lawyers withdrew from the trial due to unpaid fees.

He reportedly told Judge Cagney Musi that he was unhappy with his treatment, complaining that he was escorted to his court date in 80 cars and woke up at 2 a.m. with chains around his ankles and frozen feet. That was not “the way I wanted to carry on.”

He also reportedly claimed that he was denied a fair trial because of his personal ties to members of the South African elite, including former President Jacob Zuma.

Bester is also said to have told the court that he was unhappy that his co-defendants were on trial. He said: “Your Honor, I say this as a broken man and from the bottom of my heart. It tears me apart to see these people in this court, knowing full well that they are suffering for something they know nothing about.”

He then allegedly cited laws that have since been repealed and called for the death penalty in a petition signed by the public.

He said: “If that means this court can accept the petition and the public can sign it, then we can put all this behind us. I am at peace. I know what I did and what I did not do.”

The case was adjourned to July 24 and Bester was given seven days to find a new lawyer.

The leaked document from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) previously revealed that Bester was one of the leaders of the organised group at the Mangaung Correctional Centre.

Four female guards are said to have engaged in prostitution and received payment of between 1,000 ZAR (41 GBP) and 1,500 ZAR (63 GBP).

The document also allegedly states that there was “a poisoning campaign to eliminate perpetrators who allegedly ‘saw things’ that led to Bester’s escape.”

In addition, a plot to poison Bester’s former cellmate Zwelinzima Nquru is said to have come to light after he stated that he did not believe his cellmate was dead.

According to local media, a senior prison director was also part of the gang.

An unnamed inmate told local media: “In June 2022 (a month after Bester’s escape), a security manager from G4S approached me and gave me a blue substance in a bag.”

“He told me to put it in the food of prisoner Zwelinzima Nquru.”

However, the agency told local media that it could not investigate the report further, adding: “Some aspects also relate to the Thabo Bester escape incident, which is currently before the court and the investigation into which is ongoing.”

Bester and eleven co-defendants were accused of aiding and abetting escape. Other charges include obstruction of justice, fraud and desecration of a corpse.

Bester’s lawyers claimed he was being treated inhumanely at Kgosi Mampuru Prison in Pretoria and was handcuffed in his cell around the clock.

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