Maseru, Sept. 02 — Correctional Officer ‘Molaoa Mothabeng has finally admitted being one of the recruits who assaulted inmates during the search exercise.
Officer Mothabeng admitted before the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates that he assaulted some inmates during the search exercise that was conducted at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) on December 22, 2023 which resulted in the assault of inmates, leaving Tlotliso Bereng paralysed.
He was earlier implicated by several inmates in their testimonies before the Commission, although he denied assaulting them during cross examination.
He indicated that he searched Block B, C and maximum, revealing the names of inmates whom he searched and assaulted.
” Some of those I chastised were the ones I knew as they were my students and I was just teasing them when laying my hands on them, ” he said.
However he insisted that he did not assault Bereng as he took nine seconds in his cell, saying he found him quiet with Officer Mokoloko and could not confirm if the latter had already assaulted Bereng or not.
He further pointed out that in the midst of the assault, inmates cried louder when they saw senior officers, saying he believed it was their way of seeking help.
He concluded that he did not see anything wrong in assaulting inmates based on how they lived at correctional service training school as it was instilled in them that recruits must be rough on inmates.
” I still had fear that this would bring dire consequences” he said, adding that no one had anticipated there would be serious injuries when inmates were assaulted.
Meanwhile the Commission’s Chairperson Justice Realeboha Mathaba said although some recruits have decided to admit they assaulted inmates, they are still not courageous enough to tell the Commission who exactly they saw assaulting inmates.
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