Cops nab 'Facebook rapist'

Cool, calm and collected - even when he was led away in handcuffs. The man suspected of being South Africa's notorious "Facebook rapist" - and wanted in connection with murder - seemed relaxed when police caught up with him this week.

The suspect, known as Thomas Bester, was nabbed on Wednesday night at a house in Alberton, south of Johannesburg, after allegedly kidnapping a young woman.

His arrest followed a tip-off by a civilian. Police swooped on the location, to discover they had caught the man who had evaded and taunted them for weeks.

Bester is wanted in connection with up to 30 cases, including murder and rape.

Police spokesman Colonel Vish Naidoo said yesterday: "Initially nobody realised that it was the same guy. Even then, he was operating under a totally different name. He has been using so many names."

Naidoo said he was confident they had finally got their man.

"It is the same guy. We have confirmed it with photographs."

Investigators would now conduct identification tests, using fingerprints, he said.

The arrest followed a nationwide hunt.

The suspect, who used several aliases and called himself "Thomas Bester" on his Facebook profile, is accused of preying on women in the modelling and hospitality industries.

He was almost caught earlier in the week after a tip-off.

"The police received a call that he had been seen, but we could not get there in time," said Naidoo.

Bester earned his nickname by approaching women via Facebook with proposals for them to earn money while doing modelling assignments.

The women were then lured to a distant city and attacked.

Last week, he appeared to have changed tactics. According to the police, he began targeting potential victims by sending them e-mails and offering them modelling assignments abroad.

Bester - whose other aliases included Magagula, TK, Rufus Mahopo, Kelly Young and Tom Kelly - was wanted in connection with the rape of two models in Durban.

He was also linked to the fatal stabbing of 26-year-old aspiring model, Nomfundo Tyulu, in Cape Town last month.

Tyulu, who worked at a car dealership in Johannesburg, was found dead after a man fitting Bester's description lured her to the city with promises of modelling work.

The suspect is likely to appear in court only in November.