Bester was returned to the country Thursday morning and escorted by the National Intervention Unit (NIU) from the Pretoria-based Kgosi Mampuru Maximum Prison Centre early Friday morning. He was brought to the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court just after 09:00 under heavy guard. Bester is set to be charged with, among others, escaping from lawful custody, defeating the ends of justice, and fraud. He is appearing before Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi.

Bester's hands and feet were cuffed during his brief appearance.

It's understood that since Bester is a convicted criminal, he will only be added to the case where his co-accused are charged with varying counts. They include Dr Nandipha Magudumana, her father Zolile Sekeleni, former G4S security guards Seneho Matsoara, and Tebeho James Lipholo.

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They will again appear in court on Monday 17 April 2023, after they all first appeared this week on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.

After faking his own death by staging a fire in his cell, he broke out from the G4S-run Mangaung Prison in Bloemfontein in May 2022. The charred body of an unknown person, who suffered blunt force trauma to the head, was found burnt beyond recognition after being placed in his cell. 

The body was allegedly planted so that Bester could make his well-executed escape from the private prison. He was on the run for months before being caught in Tanzania last week. He and his girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, were returned to South Africa on Thursday morning.

OFM News