The charges against a former defence lawyer of the convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester have been withdrawn.

Marvin Carpede, who represented Bester at his first court appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court last year, was arrested along with another suspect, Mamello Mnisi, at Batho Location on Tuesday, 10 October. They were allegedly found in possession of 500 Mandrax tablets worth R25,000.

The charges against Carpede were withdrawn after Mnisi pleaded guilty, said Free State and Northern Cape NPA spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane. They spent a week behind bars before being released on bail of R500 on Tuesday, 17 October.

The lawyer himself had previously said his name would be cleared. But he refused to give any further information, saying he wasn’t at liberty to talk about the case since it was being dealt with in a court of law.

They were arrested during a stop and search operation’

Police spokesperson Ikobeng Hlubi detailed how the duo were arrested during a stop and search operation which was conducted at Moshoeshoe Street in Rocklands, Bloemfontein. A suspicious car with a foreign number plate was stopped and searched. 500 Mandrax tablets, estimated to be worth R25,000 were uncovered. Another former lawyer of Thabo Bester was apprehended and charged with attempted rape.

Twelve people were arrested for allegedly aiding Bester to escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre on 3 May 2022. The accused, including Nandipha Magudumana's father Zolile Sekeleni, Matsoara, Lipholo, Makhotsa, Mier, and Makhetha, have all been granted R10,000 bail.

But charges were dropped against three people – Nastassja Jansen, Thabo Mier, and Moeketsi Ramolula on Wednesday 11 October. During the last court appearance, Bester’s lawyer concerns over the alleged ill-treatment of his client.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg