Maseru, Aug. 21 — Correctional Officer ‘Molaoa Mothabeng says recruits have embedded a culture of not betraying one another thus he never divulged names of those who assaulted a soldier inmate regardless of their relationship.
These, he said in his testimony before the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates after one of the soldier inmates, Captain Litekanyo Nyakane earlier disclosed before the Commission that he asked Mothabeng to give him a list of recruits who were in his prison cell and assaulted him during the search exercise that was conducted at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) on December 22, last year.
Correctional Officer Mothabeng said although he did not meet with Nyakane on December 26, there was no way he could reveal the names of recruits who assaulted him regardless of the special relationship they had as Nyakane also knew he wouldn’t do that as he was once a recruit himself.
He further indicated that he even warned his fellow recruits weeks after he heard that the Ombudsman was going to conduct the investigation on the assault of inmates while they were at Correctional Service Training School (CSTS), that Nyakane wanted him to reveal the names of recruits who assaulted him.
“I warned them, I did not want them to fall into the same trap” he said, adding that he wanted to calm and assure them that he was not part of the people who would divulge names.
Asked if he realized it was wrong and that he defeated ends of justice by not divulging the names of recruits who assaulted inmates, he said it was natural to defend themselves as things were not good at CSTS after the incident as they also realized that even courts of law were working on weekends due to the incidents of December 22.
He also said he would not be surprised if recruits would not betray one another even in the Commission, indicating that evidence will however clarify what exactly happened.
However he clarified that if he knew the recruits who assaulted inmates, he would divulge their names as he is no longer a recruit but a Correctional Officer.
Mothabeng also explained that he did not meet with Nyakane on the above mentioned date, they were not allowed to enter into the facility after the incident but were only allowed to work outside the compound and towers.
He said he received Nyakane’s message through Seagent Peo, adding that the latter was untruthful to the Commission by saying he facilitated his meeting with Nyakane.
Meanwhile, Nyakane earlier presented before the Commission a list of seven recruits who assaulted him during the search, which he said he received from Mothabeng.
On the other hand, Seagent Peo also confirmed facilitating the meeting between Nyakane and Mothabeng on December 26.
The Agency has learnt that Mothabeng is due to testify before the Commission on the incidents of December 22,2023.
Ends
