Maseru, May. 31 — An inmate awaiting trial since 2017 says, since the start of the Commission of inquiry investigating the escape and torture of inmates at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI), LCS Correctional Officers are denying everything.
This was disclosed by Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi when presenting his evidence before the Commission led by Chairman, Justice Realeboha Mathaba in Maseru today, Friday.
According to the inmate, he was assaulted by amongst others one Correctional Officer, Khosi Hlalele with a gumboot in December 2023.
He said he has known Hlalele in 2019, adding at the time he was bulky and not wearing spectacles like now. “Amongst the people who assaulted me was Hlalele” he stressed.
However, in cross examination, Correctional Officer Hlalele said in a statement earlier, Sergeant Moepi mentioned he was assaulted with a wood ‘Thetho’ as it is called in the correctional institution and now gumboot, an inconsistency that must be noted by the Commission.
Again, he explained that it is not true that the inmate has known him since 2019 as he worked with the institution in 2021, thus will bring his contract as proof.
Another Correctional Officer, Motiki Mohale implicated in the assault denied having assaulted any inmate.
However, Sergeant Moepi is adamant he saw him assaulting one Staff Sergeant Heqoa, a matter that surprised him yet he (Mohale) is a soldiers son.
This Commission has been established in line with Public inquiries Act of 1994, Section 3 (1), it has a tenure of two months.
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