Accused “Facebook rapist” who faked demise to flee jail loses bid to dam Netflix documentary

South African Court Rejects Bid to Block Netflix Documentary on “Facebook Rapist” Thabo Bester

A South African court on Friday rejected an attempt to block the release of a Netflix documentary about a man convicted of rape and murder who faked his own death to escape prison. Thabo Bester, dubbed the “Facebook Rapist,” gained global notoriety in 2023 after his arrest in Tanzania, a year after the dramatic escape from a private prison in Bloemfontein. Authorities had believed that Bester had set himself alight in his cell but DNA tests revealed the charred remains belonged to someone else.

Bester and his celebrity doctor partner, Nandipha Magudumana, opposed the three-part “Beauty and the Bester” documentary, arguing it was defamatory and violated their rights to a fair trial. However, Judge Sulet Potterill dismissed the application, ruling that they had failed to prove that their petition was urgent, adding that the matter was “firmly in the public domain.” The judge noted that the pair would still be free to sue for defamation if they wished, after the documentary airs, according to BBC News.

The documentary’s release has sparked widespread interest, with many eager to learn more about the shocking case. Bester had been sentenced to life in prison in 2012 for luring victims on Facebook and then raping and robbing them, killing at least one person. He now faces separate charges, including for his escape. Doubts about Bester’s death were first raised by local media outlet GroundUp.

Police later opened a fresh murder investigation after an autopsy revealed the body found in Bester’s cell had died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head before it was set ablaze. The body was identified as that of Katlego Bereng Mpholo, according to the BBC. Before fleeing abroad, Bester and Magudumana were thought to have lived in a villa in an affluent Johannesburg suburb.

Thabo Bester with co-accused Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, Tebogo James Dipholo and Zolile Sekeleni appear at Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on August 08, 2023 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The suspects are facing charges related to aiding and abetting the escape of a prisoner in the Thabo Bester case.

Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images via Getty Images

Background and Investigation

The pair were arrested while on the run in the East African state of Tanzania in April 2023 and were deported, according to BBC News. The film was released hours after Friday’s judgment was delivered. Bester’s case has raised questions about the effectiveness of the South African justice system and the use of technology in facilitating crimes.

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Image Source: www.cbsnews.com