The state has withdrawn charges against three of the 12 suspects accused in the Thabo Bester escape from the Mangaung Correctional Facility in the Free State.
The suspects appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court today, facing charges of corruption, fraud, aiding and abetting a prisoner to escape from lawful custody and tampering with a corpse.
“Your worship I’m going to withdraw the matter against the following accused, Nastassja Jansen, Thabang Mier and Moeketsi Ramolula. I’m withdrawing the case against the three,” said state prosecutor Amanda Bester.
The trio were all employed by G4S security company when Bester escaped from the facility in 2022.
Meanwhile, Bester’s girlfriend Dr Nandipha Magudumana, was a no show in court today, after she allegedly fainted at the Parkroad Police Station holding cells in Bloemfontein. According to her lawyer, she was treated by paramedics on the scene.
Bester has in the meanwhile reinforced his legal representation, by roping top advocates, Dali Mpofu and Zandile Mshololo.
Mpofu recently represented the dismissed former Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, while Mshololo is currently representing one of the suspects accused with the murder of former soccer star Senzo Meyiwa at the Pretoria High Court.
All the accused were served with indictment and the trial was set for February next year at the Bloemfontein High Court.
