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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Thabo Bester: 'Facebook rapist' who faked death arrested in Tanzania | Thabo Bester: 'Facebook rapist' who faked death arrested in Tanzania |
| (2 months later) | |
| A police officer leads Thabo Bester (right) out of the holding cells at the Durban Magistrates Court in 2011 | A police officer leads Thabo Bester (right) out of the holding cells at the Durban Magistrates Court in 2011 |
| A rapist and murderer who escaped a South African prison by faking his own death has been arrested in Tanzania. | A rapist and murderer who escaped a South African prison by faking his own death has been arrested in Tanzania. |
| Thabo Bester was at large for a year after it was thought he died by setting himself on fire in his prison cell. | Thabo Bester was at large for a year after it was thought he died by setting himself on fire in his prison cell. |
| A manhunt was launched last month after a new post-mortem investigation revealed the body was not actually his. | A manhunt was launched last month after a new post-mortem investigation revealed the body was not actually his. |
| Bester was caught on Friday with his girlfriend and a third suspect and will be extradited to South Africa. | Bester was caught on Friday with his girlfriend and a third suspect and will be extradited to South Africa. |
| Police said they believe the trio were intending to flee into neighbouring Kenya. | Police said they believe the trio were intending to flee into neighbouring Kenya. |
| Bester is known as the "Facebook rapist" for using the social networking site to lure his victims. | Bester is known as the "Facebook rapist" for using the social networking site to lure his victims. |
| He was convicted in 2012 for the rape and murder of his model girlfriend Nomfundo Tyhulu. A year earlier, he was found guilty of raping and robbing two other women. | He was convicted in 2012 for the rape and murder of his model girlfriend Nomfundo Tyhulu. A year earlier, he was found guilty of raping and robbing two other women. |
| In May, it was reported he had been found dead in his cell after apparently setting himself on fire at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in the city of Bloemfontein. | In May, it was reported he had been found dead in his cell after apparently setting himself on fire at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in the city of Bloemfontein. |
| However, local media began to raise doubts about Bester's death late last year. | However, local media began to raise doubts about Bester's death late last year. |
| In March, police opened a new murder investigation after further tests revealed the deceased was not Bester - and that the unidentified person had died from blunt-force trauma to the head. | In March, police opened a new murder investigation after further tests revealed the deceased was not Bester - and that the unidentified person had died from blunt-force trauma to the head. |
| Employees of the British-owned security company G4S, which ran the prison where he was held, have been accused of helping him flee. | Employees of the British-owned security company G4S, which ran the prison where he was held, have been accused of helping him flee. |
| It has said three employees were dismissed in connection with the incident. | It has said three employees were dismissed in connection with the incident. |
| Earlier this week, representatives for the organisation failed to attend a meeting in parliament about Bester's escape. The BBC has approached G4S for comment. | Earlier this week, representatives for the organisation failed to attend a meeting in parliament about Bester's escape. The BBC has approached G4S for comment. |
| There have been many reported sightings of Bester over the past year, including claims he was grocery shopping in an affluent suburb of Johannesburg, and was living in a rented mansion there. | There have been many reported sightings of Bester over the past year, including claims he was grocery shopping in an affluent suburb of Johannesburg, and was living in a rented mansion there. |
| Bester's escape sparked outrage in South Africa, which has one of the highest rates of sexual assault in the world. | Bester's escape sparked outrage in South Africa, which has one of the highest rates of sexual assault in the world. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| South Africa | South Africa |
| Africa |