Maseru, May 16 — The Officer in Charge of Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) Assistant Commissioner Tsoto Manaka says there is no procedure prescribed for conduction of a particular search at the institution.
These he said when testifying before the Commission of Inquiry on the incidents that occurred at MCCI on December 21 and 22, 2023.
He said they only make a report on things they found after conducting the general search which he said is usually conducted prior the Christmas, Easter and Independence holidays.
He therefore said the general search, which was conducted on December 22 last year, was initially planned as it had to be done ahead of Christmas, saying he called the Officer Commanding Correctional Staff Training School (CSTC) between December 19 and 20 for assistance as there was shortage of staff that week as some officers were taking inmates to doctors and courts.
He said they therefore agreed however two Superintendents at the institution said they did not prepare for the search when asked yet they knew.
In another issue, the Commission questioned the job description of the Assistant Commissioner as it specified that it is for Divisional Commander North, however Commissioner Manaka urged the Commission to omit this part and the details of the job description are the same as his.
He said the former Senior Assistant Commissioner said they need an Assistant Commissioner at the institution and told him to work as he knows how the Officer Commanding the facility operates and that some parts in this job description are performed by the Officer Commanding.
Stating his job description, he said he has to maintain order and stability at the institution, inspect MCCI and ensure that searches are conducted amongst others.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Manaka is still testifying before the Commission on the events of December 21 and 22.
The Commission of Inquiry was established with the objective to investigate the circumstances that led to the escape and assault of inmates which resulted in the death of one inmate leaving the other paralyzed in December last year at MCCI.
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