Cape Town – One of the people accused of assisting rapist and murderer Thabo Bester in his escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre has denied any involvement or receiving any money.
The accused, Buti Masukela, told a bail hearing at Bloemfontein magistrate’s court on Friday that he had no knowledge of the escape and did not benefit from it financially.
According to Times Live, cross-examining a state witness who is part of the team investigating the case, lawyer Masilo Koenana, told the court his client was not involved in the crime.
“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 statement from Capitec didn’t show anything … but I would disagree that he was not involved in the crime because his job at the gate was to search all vehicles passing there, and also only allow vehicles with a gate pass through,” the report quoted lawyer Masilo Koenana, representing Masukela, as saying.
Previously, it was revealed that Bester’s lover, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, collected the body of a deceased person, Katlego Bereng, from a hospital and used it as a decoy during the escape.
The body was transported to the prison by Senohe Matsoara, another accused, who gained entry without proper authorisation. The vehicle used in the transport was reportedly hired by Magudumana’s father. The body was concealed in a bag under a TV stand brought in by Matsoara.
The following day, Teboho Lipholo, another accused, allegedly used a trolley bin to move the body while pretending to clean the prison yard. The body was then kept in a dark room in the Broadway section of the prison. Bester, accompanied by Lipholo and Matsoara, left the prison dressed in a G4S uniform.
Meanwhile, the witness also testified that he had made a mistake to say Masukela had been dismissed by G4S.
Masilo Koenane for Buti Masukela [PIC] Jnow cross examining the investigating officer.
Koenane: You said my client is fired from G4s?
Officer:
I made a mistake, he is not fired but he is suspended.
Koenane:
His hearing will be held on 22 May.#sabcnews pic.twitter.com/cnKzG8S50k
— Chriselda Zozi Lewis (Babes Wendaba) (@Chriseldalewis) May 19, 2023
This was after Masukela‘s attorney said his client was not dismissed by G4S but rather suspended, EWN reported.
The hearing into his suspension will be held from 22-24 May.
The witness testifies that he had made a mistake to say accused 6 – Buti #Masukela – had been dismissed by #G4S. Masukela’s attorney says his client was not dismissed by G4S but rather suspended. The hearing into his suspension will be held from 22-24 May. pic.twitter.com/pEZs04OmxG
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) May 19, 2023
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Picture: Twitter/@Chriseldalewis
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
