MASERU
Senior officers of the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) are alleged to have suggested that some parts of the footage featuring the incidents of December 21 and 22, 2023 at Maseru Central Correctional Institution be deleted. The footage showed the warders severely assaulting other inmates.
The accusation was made by Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) Operations, Matete Mahao when testifying before the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates, claiming that Assistant Superintendent Samson Rasehloho suggested erasureof this footage.
SAC Mahao said Rasehloho made the above-mentioned recommendation when he asked him why he delayed arriving at the meeting in which he and other senior officers were called to attend for viewing of the footage by the Ombudsman.
He pointed out that Rasehloho said he delayed as he passed by the office of another officer and the footage was sensitive and bad hence he said something must be done or be deleted, saying that was when this issue came out.
Enquired how Rasehloho could had said that, yet he proposed an external expert be hired as he did not want to be involved or be accused by fellow colleagues who feature on the footage, for incriminating them per audio he recorded, he said the recording starts in the office of Senior Superintendent Martin ‘Molaoa not at the spot where they were when he said that.
He added that Rasehloho might have made a recording after they had left the spot they were. “The fact that the recording starts where the conversations is in the middleis doubtful,” he added highlighting that recording people without their consent is unlawful and unconstitutional thus advise the Commission not to use the contents of this recording as it was done without his consent.
On the hand, Deputy Commissioner Mosheoane Tšolo said he thought the suggestion of deletion of the footage was out of frustration, admitting that it was inappropriate that an officer junior to him submitted that in his presence.
He also said he was not mindful that they were recorded as per audio, saying he took that as incoordination and that got the impression, he was being part of that suggestion. In the meantime, the audio was played before the Commission on Monday in the presence of five Senior Officers including Deputy Commissioner Tšolo who are featured in it.
It was recorded by Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho who is now based at Juvenile Training Centre on grounds that he wanted to protect himself. In addition, both SAC and DC insisted the discussions were informal.
