Maseru, Dec. 23 — Two Cabinet Ministers toured Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) today, Saturday after six inmates escaped in prison on Thursday night.
These Ministers are Mr. Limpho Tau, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Minister of Justice and Law, Mr. Richard Ramoeletsi and their entourage. They were guided during the tour by Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) Commissioner, Mr. Mating Nkakala.
In his remarks, Minister Tau allayed fears of Basotho that after the tour, they realised that an incident such as this is occurring now after it last happened over 10 years ago, an indication that this institution is making efforts to beef up security.
However, he said he established that while LCS is to deliver full report of this matter inclusive of the one pertaining to torture of some inmates as it came out on social media, government will further get back to the society to report back on areas needing to be strengthened and how government will assist, so that matters such as these ones do not occur again in future.
Similarly, Minister Ramoeletsi affirmed to the nation that them coming to the institution was to get an insight of events that happened leading to escape of inmates including torture of some inmates, further confirming to the nation that once a fully flashed report is given to government, they will indicate way forward.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner informed the nation that of the six who escaped, four were recaptured while the other two are still on the run and the institution is in search of them. “Of those who were recaptured, one has lost his life and we are yet to inform his family while investigations are continuing to establish exactly what transpired,” he said.
In another issue, he mentioned that some inmates including LDF members (inmates) within MCCI were also tormented, adding though they are still investigating, a full report will be issued.
Furthermore, he could not state the total number of those tortured, saying this will be known at a later stage as they are still attending to this matter in an attempt to get to the bottom of what transpired.
Therefore, he pointed out that visiting inmates’ business was disrupted as a result of this yesterday, Friday and that today and beyond, it shall be business as usual.
LCS is an arm of government mandated to rehabilitate inmates both men and women including children.
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