Maseru-Some recruits, who are associated in the assault of inmates are continuing to be misleading to the Commission of Inquiry.
This arose during their evidences before the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates, on the search exercise that was conducted at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) on December 22, 2023, which led to beating of inmates, leaving one paralysed.
Speaking on this matter, the Commission Chairperson Justice Realeboha Mathaba cautioned one of the recruits who is now Correctional Officer Letšela ‘Nei that he should choose between satisfying his fellow colleagues or avoid being charged by the commission for not telling the truth.
This was said after ‘Nei told the Commission that not all prisoners were crying as they were assaulted by the recruits during the search, some were screeching due to the fact that they were threatened.
He also failed to disclose the names of recruits who beat up inmates in block C, stating that he did not recall whom he was with during the search in that block.
“Honestly Chair, I am not able to recall whom I was with as it was a long time ago” he said.
Enquired if he was aware that he assaulted the inmates or not and that he failed to protect them, he admitted and accepted that the search was cold-hearted.
On the other hand, Correctional Officer Paseka Mosebekoa also failed to reveal the names of recruits who assaulted inmates in block C, mainly the soldier inmate Sebilo, saying he did not assault him or see anyone assaulting him.
“I only saw Chief Officer Ratšele collecting the sticks from the recruits and did not even see the recruits who were holding those sticks” he said.
However he acknowledged that he saw numerous inmates injured after the search, saying his colleagues failed to protect inmates, not himself.
The Evidence Leader Advocate Makhele Sekati thus told Mosebekoa that he was being dishonest to the Commission by saying the above.
Meanwhile, there are other recruits who testified earlier whom Justice Mathaba also warned that the Commission had observed that they were untruthful.
The recruits who are now Correctional Officers are continuing to testify before the Commission on the incidents of December 22, 2023.
