Maseru , May 20 — The Officer in Charge of Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) Assistant Commissioner Tsoto Manaka revealed the long awaited names of officers who assaulted the late inmate, Bokang Tsoako.
This happened after the Evidence Leader Advocate Makhele Sekati made an arrangement for him to watch the footage over the weekend after he claimed before the Commission of Inquiry that he did not watch the footage and thus did not know officers who assaulted the deceased.
Assistant Commissioner Manaka revealed that there are about 61 officers who were seen on the footage together with their Seniors, and revealed the names of three officers who were seen assaulting the deceased.
Asked how possible the Lesotho Correctional Service (lLCS) Commissioner Mating Nkakala could not see the people on the footage as he said while under oath, Assistant Commissioner Manaka said according to a large number of superintendents and chief officers who appear on the footage, it was easy for the Commissioner to have identified them.
Meanwhile he was also allowed to reveal in camera the names of eight officers who are alleged to be members of gangsterism (manomoro) at MCCI.
Assistant Commissioner Manaka was testifying before the Commission of Inquiry on the incidents that occurred at MCCI on December 21 and 22, 2023.
The Commission of Inquiry, which is Chaired by Justice Realeboha Mathaba 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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