Maseru, Sept. 03 — Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) Officials are continuing to be implicated by several witnesses, both recruits and inmates in their testimonies before the Commission of Inquiry.
The trio, MCCI Commander Assistant Commissioner Manaka, his second in charge Senior Superintendent Mahlelebe and Correctional Service Training School Commander Assistant Commissioner Nthako are alleged to have heard inmates crying when they were being assaulted by the recruits as they passed by to punishment cells in block C during the search exercise.
Correctional Officer Khosi Hlalele told the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates in his testimony that the trio must have heard the cries of inmates based on how loud they were.
“The cries were still there when they passed by and were from several prison cells” he stressed, adding that he does not recall inmates being assaulted in the corridor as the trio passed by.
He also said he did not remember the trio’s expression when they heard cries from inmates as he was concentrating on what he was doing.
The trio have since denied hearing cries from inmates when cross examining the witnesses who implicated them, saying the inmates were not assaulted when they passed by.
The search exercise was conducted at MCCI on December 22, last year and resulted in the assault of inmates, leaving one paralysed.
ENDS
