“Suicide?”| Top Cop Involved In The Thabo Bester Investigation Shots Himself
According to reports, an esteemed law enforcement officer who played a crucial role in the Thabo Bester investigation tragically took his own life.
The incident occurred when he brought his vehicle to a halt on a bustling roadside, where he inflicted a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
On Monday, 5 June, eNCA confirmed the death of Brigadier Jackson Mkhaulesi, the head of the Free State Organized Crime Unit. Mkhaulesi was also one of the lead investigators in the Bester escape saga.
New details, as well as images and a video from the scene, have since come to light.
The policeman’s death comes just hours after Bester’s co-accused Nandipha Magudumana’s release bid pending her claim of an “unlawful arrest” was dismissed.
TOP COP COMMITS SUICIDE ON BUSY ROAD
According to eNCA, the investigating officer reportedly took his life after leaving the Bloemfontein High Court on Monday morning. In court, Nandipha’s urgent application to declare her “deportation” from Tanzania unlawfully was dismissed.
Journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika has provided new information, tweeting:
“Just before 12 midday today, one of #ThaboBester investigators, stopped his white Ford Ranger, just on the corner of Rhodes Avenue and Harvey Road in Bloemfontein and shot himself. It isn’t yet known what pushed the brigadier to take his own life”.
He added:
“The brigadier had 31 years of uninterrupted service as a police officer, and he was also a provincial head responsible for Organised Crime in the Free State province”.
In a clip from the scene, the busy intersection is cordoned off by police and an ambulance service. A mortuary parlour van is also seen arriving to collect the dead body.
According to National police commissioner Fannie Masemola, Brigadier Mkhaulesi had been in the police service for over 30 years.
Masemola said in a media briefing:
“Over the years, he has proven himself a highly skilled detective with a wealth of experience and knowledge in crime detection.
His departure leaves a void in the SAPS detective environment”.