Maseru- Even though Correctional Officer Lehlohonolo Moabi acknowledged that he entered Tlotliso Bereng’s cell during the search exercise, he still failed to reveal that in his testimony before the Commission.
Officer Moabi, together with Officer Mothabeng, Mokoloko and Mokhethi were seen entering Bereng’s cell on the footage, during the search exercise that was conducted at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) on December 22, 2023. The search resulted in beating of inmates, leaving Bereng paralysed.
When questioned why he did not relate that he entered Bereng’s cell in his evidence before the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates, Moabi stated it was due to the fact that he moved in many cells at maximum block during the search thus he forgot, not arguing that he entered Bereng’s cell.
The Commission’s Chairperson Justice Realeboha Mathaba inquired Moabi if he accepts that Bereng was still full of life when he went out of his cell to be searched and when he went back to the cell as per footage as well as that Mothabeng and Mokoloko left him still fine.
“I am not saying Mothabeng and Mokoloko did not assaultBereng” he said, reminding Moabi that he and Mokhethi entered Bereng’s cell after he was searched and that nobody entered subsequently thus nobody could have injured him.
Responding to the above, Moabi acknowledged everything and told the Commission when making submissions that he was shameful when he watched how inmates were assaulted on the footage.
In the meantime earlier in his testimony, Bereng, who is now out of prison due to his condition said he did not know Officers who battered him as they were wearing masks and that he was new at the institution.
However Mothabeng, Mokoloko, Moabi and Mokhethi self-confessed that they entered Bereng’s cell during the search although they denied assaulting him. Bereng was assaulted by correctional officers during the search after inmates escape last year on 22 December, leaving him paralysed, even though e was never part of the inmates that escaped.
Bereng holds Honours Degree in Information Technology and opened a company called Info Tech Galaxy where he repairs phones, computers and designs websites.
