SUICIDE? Investigator in Thabo Bester’s rape case shot and killed himself in Bloemfontein

One of the officers investigating Thabo Bester’s case has shot & killed himself in Bloemfontein today.

The police on Monday confirmed one of the investigators in the Thabo Bester prison escape case has died.

“Circumstances surrounding the senior officer’s death, who is also the provincial head of organised crime in the Free State, remains the subject of a police investigation.

“The SAPS management wishes not to discuss this matter in the public domain. “In-house employee health and wellness experts which includes chaplains have been dispatched to provide psychosocial services to the family and colleagues of the deceased member,” police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said.

Mathe did not want to confirm media reports that he had committed suicide.

TimesLIVE, however, understands from sources close to the investigation that he had shot himself.

National police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola described the officer as a hardworking, loyal and dedicated detective with 31 years service.

“Over the years he has proven himself to be a highly skilled detective with a wealth of experience and knowledge in the detective environment. His departure leaves a void in the SAPS detective environment,” Mathe said.

National spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the circumstances surrounding the officers death are being investigated.

“The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service General Fannie Masemola has described the member as a ‘hardworking, loyal and dedicated detective for 31 years of service’.

“Over the year he has proven himself to be a high-skilled detective. with a wealth of experience and knowledge in the detective environment. He departure leaves a void in the SAPS detective environment,” she said.

Thabo bester escaped from the Magaung Correctional Centre in May last year.

His was recaptured in April this year in Tanzania and is currently held at the Kgosi Mampuru correctional facility.