Cape Town – Four of the five individuals accused in the Thabo Bester case were on Monday denied bail by the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court.
Senohe Matsoara, Teboho Lipholo, Buti Masukela, and Tieho Frans Makhotsa were denied bail by magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi.
However, Natassja Jansen was granted bail of R10 000 under certain conditions, Times Live reported.
The accused, along with Bester’s partner Dr Nandipha Magudumana, are charged with aiding Bester’s escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May last year.
During the bail application, Masukela’s lawyer argued that his client had no involvement in the crime and did not receive any financial benefit.
“My client wasn’t paid any monies. He received no cent. No money was transferred into his account. He didn’t benefit anything and knew nothing about this,” the report quoted Masilo Koenana as saying.
Matsoara’s attorney also denied that his client received money from Bester.
BREAKING
Bail denied for 4 of the 5 accused of aiding and abetting Thabo Bester to escape from prison.
Accused number 8, Natassja Jansen, is released on bail. #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/WYZ6yg6Ryr
— Aldrin Sampear (@AldrinSampear) May 29, 2023
An investigating officer involved in the case requested the court to deny bail due to the seriousness of the alleged offenses and the potential for unrest if the accused were released.
Denying the four bail Magistrate Moholo Khabisa said: “It is hard if not possible to find the personal circumstances of the applicants outweighing the interests of justice in this case.
“The interests of justice do not permit the release of applicants number 1, 2 and 3 and 4 on bail and as such bail is denied.”
According to News24, the case has been adjourned until June 20, 2023, and during this period, Matsoara, Lipholo, Masukela, and Makhotsa will remain in custody.
However, Jansen is required to report to Heidedal SAPS at 06:00 and 18:00 every Friday. Additionally, she is prohibited from contacting state witnesses and is not permitted to leave Bloemfontein without the approval of the investigating officer, the report said.
Magudumana, who was initially part of the bail application, withdrew and instead filed an urgent application with the Bloemfontein high court, seeking to declare her arrest and detention unlawful.
She claimed that the police had no court order or arrest warrant when she was transported from Tanzania to South Africa.
She requested the nullification of the criminal proceedings and her release from prison.
The court postponed the matter to 20 June.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
