Three more suspects have been arrested in connection with the prison escape of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester’s case. The suspects aged between 37 and 47 were arrested last night and they are all G4S employees. This brings the total number of suspects arrested to twelve.

THE STATE EXPECTED THE ARRESTS

During Thabo Bester, Dr Nandipha Magudumana and their co-accused court appearance last week, prosecutor Sello Matlhoko told the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court that three more people were expected to be arrested. He said that statements still needed to be taken from two witnesses and police were still analysing cellphones and bank statements. Bester, with the help of his lover Magudumana, her father and G4S employees escaped from Mangaung Prison last year May. They allegedly used the body of Katlego Bereng as a decoy in Bester’s escape from prison.

LATEST SUSPECTS ARRESTS

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said one suspect was arrested at his home in Botshabelo while the other two were arrested at their place of residence in Bloemfontein. �"All three were arrested on Monday evening. They all face charges of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody, violation of a corpse and corruption,” Mathe said. She added that the possibility of effecting more arrests cannot be ruled out. The trio is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 28 June 2023. Bester and Magudumana and their seven co-accused have been postponed to 8 August for further police investigation.