By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
National police commissioner Fannie Masemola has dismissed claims by convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester that R30 million worth of money and luxury goods had gone missing.
Bester fled South Africa after news broke that he had not died in a fire in his cell in May 2022 and that he had been living outside the prison with her accomplice Dr Nandipha Magudumana and her children in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
On Tuesday, Bester, Magudumana and other 10 accused appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.
Bester’s lawyer told the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court that items to the value of R30 million were stolen from him when he was deported from Tanzania to South Africa in April.
“The items which are missing include an iPhone 14 pro max valued at R36,000, Samsung S23 valued at R32,000. Samsung Z4 valued at R40,000, an Apod 16 valued at R18,000. A MacBook Air 16 valued at R12,500 and a MacBook Pro 16 valued at R24,600,” he told the court.
“The other items include two Rolex watches valued at R2.6 million each, a marriage ring to the value of R350 000, a Burberry cup holder worth R15 000, 500 000 Euros, 1.4 million in Zambian currency, $36 000 and R295 000.”
If his claims are accurate, Bester had movable assets worth more than R30 million on him, depending on the rand exchange rate with various currencies.
Many of these items – like rental properties and vehicles – would probably have been acquired during the year he was out of prison.
However, Bester had also run several scams from prison.
Masemola addressed the killer’s allegations during a raid in the Johannesburg CBD where illicit cigarettes and counterfeit goods were seized.
The commissioner said police only took two phones and a laptop from Bester on the day he landed.
Masemola said none of the officers found cash on him.
“We are aware that the Tanzanian police told the delegation that went to Tanzania that Bester did pay a lawyer in Tanzania with watches,” said Masemola.
“We don’t know how many, but he paid the lawyer with watches so how then would he pay with watches instead of using cash.”
Masemola added: “We don’t know about the cash. Maybe he can go and ask in Tanzania, I don’t know, but we are only aware of one laptop and two cellphones that are currently in our stores, as we always keep the property for those that are detained.”
Magudumana and other 10 suspects are accused of aiding and abetting Bester to escape from lawful custody in Bloemfontein under the guard of G4S in May 2022. The case has been postponed till 11 October 2023 for further investigation.