A former defence lawyer of the convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester was behind bars in Bloemfontein in the Free State recently after allegedly being arrested with hundreds of Mandrax pills in his possession.

Defence lawyer Marvin Carpede, who represented Bester at his first court appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court earlier this year, was arrested along with another suspect in the Batho Location on Tuesday (10/10). 

Carpede and his coaccused were allegedly arrested in possession of 500 Mandrax pills worth R25,000. The duo spent more or less a week behind bars before they were released on bail of R500 on Tuesday (17/10).

The case against them was postponed to 30 November.  

Marvin Carpede represented Thabo Bester at his first court appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court. Picture: Lucky Nkuyane

The lawyer himself has confirmed to OFM News he was indeed detained, but said his name would be cleared. He refused to give any further information, saying he wasn’t at liberty to talk about the case since it was being dealt with in a court of law. 

“On …10 October, the Mangaung Crime Prevention Unit members were fully engaged during a stop and search at Moshoeshoe Street in Rocklands, Bloemfontein, when they stopped a suspicious vehicle with a foreign registration number,” police spokesperson Ikobeng Hlubi said.

“Through focus and working diligently, Sergeant Lebogang Morwagae, Constable Yanga Daniel, Mbulelo Hass, and Sebolelo Silo, upon approaching the car, asked for permission to search it and that’s when they uncovered 500 Mandrax pills, estimated to be worth R25,000.”

Thabo Bester during his first court appearance in Bloemfontein. Picture: Lucky Nkuyane

Recently, another former lawyer of Bester was apprehended and charged with attempted rape and assault. 

Twelve people were arrested for allegedly aiding Bester to escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre on 3 May 2022. The accused, including Nandipha Magudumana's father Zolile Sekeleni, Matsoara, Lipholo, Makhotsa, Mier, and Makhetha, have all been granted R10,000 bail.

Charges were dropped against three people – Nastassja Jansen, Thabo Mier, and Moeketsi Ramolula – during their lastest court appearance, last Wednesday (11/10). 

Bester and Magudumana were arrested in Tanzania. He and his girlfriend were brought back to South Africa. A trial date in the matter was set for 2024. 

Bester was sent to the Kgosi Mampuru II Maximum Security Correctional Centre in Pretoria, while Magudumana was brought to Bloemfontein where she appeared in court on 13 April. She remains in custody in Kroonstad. Her bail application was denied by Magistrate de Lange on 11 September. De Lange said Magudumana was a flight risk and she could orchestrate another Bester escape.

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane