Thabo Bester escape: One accused granted bail
Two of the three men recently arrested in the Thabo Bester escape case were denied bail in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The trio appeared in court for judgment in their bail application.
They are accused of aiding notorious Facebook rapist and convicted murderer Thabo Bester in his escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in May last year.
Joel Makhetha and Moeketsi Ramolulawere denied bail.
"Accused number 11 and accused number 12, you will remain in custody until the 11th of July, bail is denied,” said Magistrate Estelle de Lange.
Applicant number 10, Thabang Mier, was granted R10 000 bail.
"Accused number 10, you are in custody; bail is sent at an amount of R10 000 on the following conditions that you are ordered upon payment of bail money to report yourself on Wednesdays to the Kopanong Police Station between the hours of eight o'clock in the morning and at four o'clock in the afternoon,” De Lange said in her ruling.
"You are further ordered not to directly or indirectly have contact with the state witnesses, you are ordered not to leave Bloemfontein without informing the investigating officers of this case, you are warned to appear before this court at half past eight in the morning and to remain in attendance should bail be paid.
"Failure to appear a warrant of arrest will be issued, your bail will be provisionally cancelled, and your bail money will be forfeited to the state."
This brings to three the total number of accused granted bail.
Prison escapee Thabo Bester and his accomplice Dr Nandipha Magudumana are also expected to appear in court on 8 August following their postponement for further police investigations alongside their co-accused.
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