Maseru, Aug. 15 — Some of the recruits, who are implicated in the assault of inmates are continuing to be untruthful to the Commission Of Inquiry.
This emerged during their testimonies before the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates, on the search exercise that was conducted at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) on December 22, 2023, which led to assault of inmates, leaving one paralysed.
Addressing this matter, the Commission Chairperson Justice Realeboha Mathaba warned one of the recruits who is now Correctional Officer Lets’ela ‘Nei that he should choose between pleasing his fellow colleagues or avoid being charged by the commission for not telling the truth.
This happened after ‘Nei told the Commission that not all inmates were crying as they were assaulted by the recruits during the search, some were crying due to the fact that they were threatened.
He also failed to disclose the names of recruits who assaulted inmates in block C, claiming that he did not recall whom he was with during the search in that block.
” Honestly Chair, I am not able to recall whom I was with as it was a long time ago” he said.
Asked if he was aware that whether he assaulted the inmates or not, he failed to protect them, he admitted and acknowledged that the search was inhuman.
On the other hand, Correctional Officer Paseka Mosebekoa also failed to disclose the names of recruits who assaulted inmates in block C, particularly the soldier inmate, Mr.Sebilo, saying he did not assault him or see anyone assaulting him.
” I only saw Chief Officer Rats’ele collecting the sticks from the recruits and did not even see the recruits who were holding those sticks” he said.
However he admitted that he saw several inmates injured after the search, saying his colleagues failed to protect inmates, not himself.
The Evidence Leader Advocate Makhele Sekati therefore told Mosebekoa that he was being untruthful to the Commission by saying the above.
Meanwhile, there are other recruits who testified earlier whom Justice Mathaba also warned that the Commission had observed that they were untruthful.
The recruits who are now Correctional Officers are continuing to testify before the Commission on the incidents of December 22, 2023.
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