GroundUp
The National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has ordered the prioritisation of investigations into the prison escape of Thabo Bester, known as the Facebook rapist.
Bester reportedly died in his prison cell after setting himself alight, however, it was established in the autopsy report that the man who died in the fire was already dead.
National Police Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says a DNA test also now confirmed that the body found in the cell was not that of Bester.
"The autopsy report went on to further reveal that the deceased had died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, and was already dead, prior to the arson incident. A case of escape from lawful custody was also registered on confirmation by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) that Thabo Bester was not in their custody.
She says a manhunt has now been launched for Bester and all those involved in his escape and more charges being added cannot be ruled out as the investigation unfolds.
"It should also be noted that the leaking of sensitive and confidential information to media houses is being looked into by authorities," said Mathe.
GroundUp has had its foot on the pedal with the Bester story and released several articles about his escape.
Bester was serving a life sentence in the Mangaung Correctional Facility when he escaped.
Prior to his escape he even ran a successful media company from his prison cell and was living a life of luxury behind bars.
He was dubbed the Facebook rapist because he used the social network site to lure women throughout the country.
He raped and robbed two aspirant models and was accused of the rape and murder of a 26-year-old model Nomfundu Tyulu.
