Sapa
The man dubbed the “Facebook rapist” yesterday pleaded guilty to raping and robbing two women.
Thabo Bester pleaded guilty to all four charges against him in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.
Bester, also known as Thomas, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of armed robbery with aggravating circumstances.
His lawyer, Narendra Narotam, read a statement to the court which explained how Bester committed the crimes.
He admitted to raping a Joburg woman in a lodge in Umhlanga, Durban, in August.
Another woman was raped in Westville, also in Durban, he said.
Although he had raped his victims, his intention was only to rob them of their valuables, such as cellphones, credit cards and watches, the court heard.
In both incidents, he used a knife to threaten them before he raped them.
Bester was arrested last Wednesday in Alberton, south of Joburg.
He had lured women by sending them e-mails claiming international modelling scouts were interested in them. He befriended them on Facebook, and then met them in person.
Explaining how he lured one of the women, Bester said he had posted a model and presenter search on FHM’s website.
Describing what happened when he enticed a model from Joburg, Bester said he had told her she needed to go to Durban for a photoshoot and that she would get a job if she did well.
“At the lodge I showed her how to model. We were laughing. I then grabbed a knife and demanded to have sex with her. She resisted and I hurt myself in the process,” he said.
After raping her, Bester went to another a hotel in Durban’s Mahatma Gandhi Road, where he allegedly tried to commit suicide, the court heard.
He was spotted by a security guard who broke a hotel window and stopped him from committing suicide.
Narotam suggested his client be assessed by a psychologist. “He has told me many things that I cannot mention here. I believe a psychological report will be needed,” he said.
Narotam said his client had a history of abuse, but he did not give details of the alleged abuse.
Bester told the court he understood the nature of the charges he faced.
It emerged in court that Bester had a previous conviction for fraud. Details of the conviction are expected to be released when he appears again in court tomorrow.
If the court allows for Bester to be assessed before his sentencing, it could be weeks before the case is finalised. If the court turns down the request, Bester would be sentenced tomorrow.
Magistrate Sharon Marks found Bester guilty as charged.