Maseru- From the three Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) recruits, who paralysed Tlotliso Bereng after hittinghim during the general search exercise conducted at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI), two were made known.
The two were disclosed by one of the inmates, Molungoa Khatala while testifying before the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates, on incidents that occurred at MCCI on December 22, 2023 during the above mentioned search.
He mentioned those recruits, who are now correctional officers as Mothabeng and Sekokotoana. He said he identified them, revealing that the door of his cell is close to Bereng’s, saying his belongings were dispersed in his door and that of Bereng.
“I saw the two assaulting Bereng in his cell but the recruit who assaulted him earlier had left and I did not see him,” he added. He showed that during the beating, he heard one officer by the name of Ratšele cautioning the recruits not to be severe on inmates staying in single cells as theyare sick.
“It was too late as they had already assaulted us,” he said.Meanwhile, when testifying before the Commission,Bereng said he did not know the recruits who assaulted him as they were wearing masks and that he was new at the facility.
He also revealed that doctors said he might never be able to walk again but always believed a miracle could happen and he would walk.
Moreover, Bereng revealed that some LCS officers were not remorseful for assaulting the late inmate, Bokang Tsoako to death as they even clowned about it.
He said he was taken through the vehicle that transported the late Tsoako.
“I was scared and did not want to enter the vehicle with the deceased because he was already dead,” Bereng said, indicating that the driver who is also an officer laughed and joked by asking him whether he was scared that people might say the deceased was killed by him.
