By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Police authorities in South Africa have commenced a manhunt for one Thabo Bester who escaped from a private maximum security prison in the Free State province under circumstances yet to be ascertained.
Bester, known as the “Facebook rapist,” was found guilty in 2012 of raping two women and killing one after luring them with the social media platform.
It was in March 2022 reported that Bester had died in a fire incident in his cell at the Mangaung Correctional Center, near Bloemfontein.
Investigations however indicated that he was not dead. Bester escaped from his cell amid the fire and has been living in Johannesburg’s posh Hyde Park suburb.
Information revealed by South African news outlet GroundUp and confirmed by the police, says the body found burned in the cell not Bester, according to DNA results.
Autopsy results have determined that the person found dead in the cell died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head before the fire.
The fire appears to have been part of Bester’s elaborate prison escape which has raised many questions about the possible involvement of prison officials.
“A case of murder is under investigation following the outcome of the DNA analysis that confirmed that the body of the deceased which was found was not of Thabo Bester,” police spokeswoman Motantsi Makhele said.
The identity of the man found dead in the cell is still unknown, she said.
A case of escape from lawful custody has also been opened as prison officials have confirmed that Bester is not in their custody, Makhele said.
“A manhunt has been launched for all persons of interest in this particular case,” she said.
According to media reports, Bester has been spotted shopping in Johannesburg’s upmarket Sandton area and has been romantically linked to a prominent celebrity doctor.
The Mangaung prison is currently being run by Britain-based private security firm G4S which was awarded a contract to administer the facility until 2026.
