Maseru-The Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates has been appealed to consider the ranks and seniority of Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) Officers who beaten inmates before making a decision.
This was said by a military detainee, who is also Lesotho Defense Force Special Force Captain, Litekanyo Nyakane when testifying before the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates, on how he was cruelly assaulted by recruits on December 22 last year during the search exercise that was conducted at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI).
Captain Nyakane said any kind of punishment is going to be enforced, the Commission must bring into attention that the people who assaulted inmates are recruits as some senior officers failed to perform their duties.
He highlighted that what happened at MCCI during the search, including the assault of an inmate who ended up losing his life after he escaped was a crucial matter thus the impact of punishment should not be similar from top to bottom.
“For junior officers, the punishment should not affect their families; instead it should be dealt with within LCS” he said.
Nonetheless, the Commission Chairperson Justice Realeboha Mathaba cautioned him that some recruits never admitted they assaulted inmates or did it because they were following orders.
Responding to this matter, Captain Nyakane approved that some of the recruits are not taking this matter serious based on their questions and responses during cross examinations.
“I believe it is not too late for recruits to change their mentality before things get worse,” he said.
Additionally, he stated it is high time the recruits confesswhat they did was wrong, saying if the Commission may please the masses, the question would be where were these masses gathered as the recruits have family members who are also part of the society.
“I am a prey of an angry nation and I would not wish anyone to travel the same journey as mine hence I tell the truth” he said.
Meanwhile Captain Nyakane is currently cross examined by officers whom he implicated in his testimony.
