Sapohr remains conviced Thabo Bester escape was 'inside job'
The South African Prisoners’ Organisation for Human Rights (Sapohr) says it was always going to be a matter of time before the rearrest of convicted killer and rapist Thabo Bester.
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola announced on Saturday that Bester was arrested by Tanzanian authorities on Friday night along with Dr. Nandipha Magudumana and a Mozambican national.
Bester and Magudumana were arrested on immigration charges in Arusha.
Thabo Bester, dubbed the Facebook rapist, escaped from the Mangaung prison in May last year by faking his own death.
The organisation's Golden Miles Bhudu says the organisation remains conviced that Bester's escape was an "inside job".
“In the early days of this botched 'inside job' and escape, we made a modest call that both of them seriously consider, as a form of remorse and atonement, hand themselves over to the law enforcement agencies, and negotiate a plea bargain, and fully co-operate, tell the tale, who else was involved. So that, when justice someday takes its course, in mitigating circumstances, the court be lenient, but that fell on deaf ears.
“SAPOHR is tempted to ask a simple question. Where was he going to go and hide? South Africa is a friend of the world, even countries that doesn’t have exchange treaties with the South Africa, when arrested there he was going to be send back packing to South Africa. Especially when you are on the run for violent crimes and you are not the right colour.”
Bhudu says they are also keen to know how government will approach the extradition of Atul and Rajesh Gupta.
“Sapohr will carefully watch the space, what the Minster of Justice and Correctional Services and the NPA will do to get the Gupta brothers re-apprehended and extradited, and come here to fully account for their heinous deeds."
The United Arab Emirates has refused South Africa's request to extradite the two corruption accused brothers, a decision Lamola said government intends to appeal.
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