Court rejects Thabo Bester’s request for laptop access in prison
Thabo Bester, a convicted murderer, requested the court to allow him access to a laptop in prison to prepare for his forthcoming trial.
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has dismissed convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester’s urgent request for access to a laptop in prison.
Bester who is incarcerated at the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria following his daring escape at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022 wanted the High Court to allow him to use a laptop in order to prepare for his upcoming deportation trial.
Bester was deported from Arusha, Tanzania, in April 2023 where he was arrested with his girlfriend and disgraced celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana.
WHY DID THABO BESTER WANT TO USE A LAPTOP IN PRISON?
In his application, Bester who represented himself in court, argued that he is under constant supervision and that being allowed access to a laptop doesn’t mean he would not be supervised.
“I am asking for a device even if it’s for an hour so that I can type and view these press briefings that were made that Thabo had to be deported for whatever reasons so that I can type the key factors that I want to use as evidence to the unlawful deportation case,” he told the court.
The High Court struck Bester’s application off the roll citing lack of urgency and emphasised that he is not entitled to electronic devices in prison.
‘BOUND BY OATH OF SECRECY’
In a statement released on Monday, 16 September, Bester said he is bound by an oath of secrecy imposed by both the State Security Agency and the office of the presidency.
Bester is adamant that he was coerced into pleading guilty and that he was never given a fair trial.
“For years, crucial transcripts have been missing, denying me the justice that I deserve. On top of that, I am bound by an oath of secrecy to the State Security Agency and the office of the presidency, where intelligence has been manipulated to further silence me,” Bester said.