Maseru-Some Correctional Officers have deniedassaulting an inmate by the name of Sihle Sekantši during the general search exercise on justification that he is a perilous inmate.
This they said when cross examining Sekantši after he associated them in his testimony before the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates.
One Correctional Officer Seepe Matsoso said Sekantši is dangerous to both inmates and officers thus could not have searched him on December 22 last year during the search exercise that was conducted at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI).
Moreover, Assistant Commissioner, Tsoto Manaka said Sekantši has an intention to tarnish his image as everything he said about him is not true. He said this during cross examination of Sekantši who is suspected to be a gang member (Lenomoro) after he implicated Manaka in his testimony before the Commission of Inquiry.
Furthermore, Sekantši stated to the Commission that MCCI Commander failed to shield him and other inmates when they were beaten and victimized and hates him as a person amongst others.
In addition, Manaka said the inmate must have prepared himself to tarnish is image as he is unhappy for being kept at in block D where he is unable to see other inmates. He said Sekantši was placed in block D with some inmates to isolate them from other inmates due to the fact that they are dangerous, not as a punishment.
He said he was not friends with an inmate by the name of Majara as Sekantši supposed, stating he only came in contact with Majara when he stole beans.
Manaka added that the Commission should reject whatever Sekantši said about him.
However, Sekantši insisted that the he was telling the truth about Manaka saying that he does not approach inmates properly and has been punishing him since 2021 after heengaged in a fight with Majara whom Manaka loved.
