‘Can the Court prove this is Thabo Bester’ Advocate Argues Bester’s Identity Case
The trial of Advocate Tsoeunyane Pela, accused of corruption, is scheduled to begin in June. However, Pela’s new advocate has raised concerns about the identity of the man currently in custody at Pretoria Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional facility, questioning whether he is indeed Thabo Bester.
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Identity Verification Controversy
During a virtual appearance at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court, Advocate Tsoeunyane Jeremiah Pela expressed his belief that proper identification of the man in court had not been established. Pela compared the situation to that of Dr. Nandipha Magudumana, who had to remove her mask for identification purposes. Pela argued that Bester should also have the opportunity to prove his identity.
Pela had previously withdrawn from the case after being questioned about his own corruption trial, which is set to commence in June. He faces allegations of corruption related to security tender bribery at Motheo TVET College in Bloemfontein. It was reported in November 2017 that Pela and another individual had demanded a R1.2 million bribe from a security company CEO to secure the company’s contract.
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Legal Proceedings and Identification Issues
Advocate Pela expressed the need to “raise the issue with the court” regarding the lack of proper identification of the man appearing in court, considering that Bester does not possess an ID book or card. He emphasized that Bester should be correctly identified, just as Dr. Magudumana was required to show her face to the court.
Magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi responded to Pela, noting that the cases were different because Bester had not hidden his face during the court proceedings, unlike Magudumana. Khabisi stated that there was no previous dispute over Bester’s identification at his initial appearance.
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Pela argued that the only evidence supporting the man’s identity as Thabo Bester was a J88 form, a medico-legal document detailing the patient’s injuries. He suggested that bringing Bester to court would facilitate better communication with his client.
Postponement of Cases
Both Thabo Bester’s case and Dr. Nandipha Magudumana’s case have been postponed until June 20, allowing time for further proceedings and clarification regarding the identity concerns.