Former Co-Accused of Thabo Bester Slams Police Handling, Claims Unjust Arrests
Nastassja Jansen, one of Thabo Bester’s co-accused, criticized the police just a day after being released. Jansen, a former G4S employee, was arrested for her alleged involvement in Bester’s prison escape. She claimed the police did a poor job and made wrongful arrests.
Jansen, along with Thabang Matthews Mier and Moeketsi April Ramolula, had their charges withdrawn by the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court. Jansen was on duty the night Bester escaped and was accused of opening the electronic gates he used to flee.
Also Read: Thabo Bester 2.0: Mzansi on Edge as Sandile Mantsoe Prison Escape Rumors Swirl
A Denial of Guilt: Jansen’s Emotional Testimony and Family Impact
In an interview with SABC, Jansen denied any involvement in the escape and expressed her suffering during her 29 days behind bars. She spoke about the toll it took on her social life, mentioning how her friends distanced themselves.
“I’ve never done anything. I don’t know what happened that night. People I thought were my friends distanced [themselves] … It really hurts. If I had done that, I would have taken responsibility.” she said.
Jansen was particularly concerned about her eight-year-old daughter, who was bullied at school due to the situation.
“Kids are very cruel at school. Kids come to your child and she’s being bullied at school. At home, as parents, sometimes we say certain things around children and they act on it. That is the main reason I still feel a little bit of anger. Hopefully my child will have a proper childhood and not be bullied for something her mother didn’t do. can’t explain how, but I still believe I was framed.”
Police Investigation Under Scrutiny: Thabo Bester Co-accused Contemplates Legal Action
(Image: Thapelo Morebudi)
She denied having any relationship with Bester and blamed the police for not conducting a proper investigation.
Jansen questioned the police’s actions, criticizing their hasty arrests and lack of thorough investigation. She felt her life was played with and expressed her anger at the situation. When asked about suing the state, she mentioned considering it.
“What did they actually do? How did they come up [with] just arresting people? Looking back I feel they did a lousy job. They take people’s lives lightly. I don’t think they think of these kinds of things before arresting people unnecessarily. This is my life they have played with,”Jansen fumed.
Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) explained the release of the three accused as part of their strategy
Also Read: Prison Officials in Trouble For Allowing Thabo Bester To Wear Expensive Designer Sweater in Court
Dr Nandipha Magudumana Files Assualt Case Against Prison Officers
In a separate development, Dr. Nandipha Magudumana opened an assault case against prison officers at the Kroonstad Correctional Centre. She collapsed in a holding cell before appearing at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court with Thabo Bester and 11 other co-accused.
Dr Nandipha had to appear at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court yesterday, together with her bae Thabo Bester. However, proceedings could not kick off after she collapsed in the police holding cells before she and 11 other co-accused appeared.