Cape Town – Three of the accused in the Thabo Bester case were granted R10 000 bail each by the Free State High Court on Wednesday.
Initially, the trio, – Senoho Matsaora, Teboho Lipholo, and Tieho Makhotsa – had been denied bail by the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court but they appealed the decision to the Free State High Court.
The judgment was delivered electronically, upholding the appeal and setting aside the magistrate’s order.
BREAKING NEWS #ThaboBester
The Bloemfontein High Court has granted bail to Senohe Matsoara, Tieho Makhotsa and Teboho Dipholo of R10 000 each, according to their lawyer.
The three were previously denied bail in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.More on #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/iJbwkgiyqH
— Chriselda Zozi Lewis (Babes Wendaba) (@Chriseldalewis) July 5, 2023
The court imposed several conditions, including mandatory appearances at the magistrate’s court on trial dates and reporting to the Kagisanong police station every Monday.
The accused were prohibited from having any contact with state witnesses and leaving Bloemfontein without written permission from the investigating officer.
According to SABC, the lawyer representing two suspects, Kagisho Moruri said: “Well we welcome the judgment, we’ve always maintained that our clients were good prospects of bail even initially but now that this has even confirmed by the High court we are more than happy. I cannot speak as to how they are feeling I am unfortunately unable to get hold of them as they are in custody at the moment but I’m sure that after this the news will get to them that they’ve been released and they will be able to go out.”
A total of 12 individuals have been arrested in connection with the Bester prison escape, with six now released on bail.
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Picture: Twitter/@Chriseldalewis
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
