Maseru-One of the recruits, Correctional Officer Lereko Lephoi was not allowed to re-testify after deceiving theCommission about his whereabouts on December 22, 2023 during the search.
Officer Lephoi had told the Commission in his evidencethat he did not join the search team that led to the search exercise at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) on above mentioned date because he was on sick leave.
He showed that there were people who could confirm that, which included Correctional Officer Noosi Bolila and one of Correctional Service Training School (CSTS) Instructors, Chief Officer Lebohang Lenono.
Nonetheless, the two did not support that in their testimonies as Lenono pointed out that she did not see Lephoi at CSTS on the day of the search and that his sick leave had elapsed when the search was conducted. “Lephoi would have been able to do almost everything at that time” she added.
It was with this concern that the Commission’s Chairperson Justice Realeboha Mathaba banned Lephoi to testify again, saying the Commission wasted so much time on this issue, including national resources. “You decided to take that course since you said you were not at MCCI during the search and when you recognize that all these people are not supporting you, you want to re-testify?” he asked, adding that Lephoi was making a mockery of the commission by claiming that he was confusing the searches, after he was caught up with his lies.
“You knew we were dealing with December 22 search and knew you were recognized on the footage” he added, thus denied Lephoi to re-testify. However, Lephoi was permittedto make submissions on evidence that was submitted.
The recruits, who are now Correctional Officers are continuing to testify before the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates, on the search exercise that was conducted at MCCI on December 22 last year, which led to assault of inmates, leaving one, Tlotliso Bereng paralysed.
