Maseru, July 15 — Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) Deputy Commissioner Operations, Mosheoane Ts’olo says his office was not informed about the general search exercise that was conducted at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) on December 22 last year.
This he said when testifying before the Commission Of Inquiry on the escape of inmates, on MCCI operations.
Deputy Commissioner Ts’olo said his office was the one which was supposed to give a green light for the search as it involved movement of officers from one place to another but it was not informed.
” I am not shifting the blame but my office should have known,” he stressed.
He further said frequency of searches conducted at correctional institutions are determined by authority in the facility, indicating that there are eight categories of search and include among others daily, fortnight, random and workshop search.
He added that officers are lectured on how search should be conducted, saying every station must have a search book which supplements reports.
He also clarified that searches in terms of lectures are part of LCS procedures and processes, adding that search and inspection are vital as they complement security and they both require personnel.
Meanwhile Deputy Commissioner Ts’olo is due to testify on issues of security at MCCI in camera.
The general search exercise , which was conducted at MCCI on December 22 last year by LCS Recruits resulted in assault of inmates, leaving one paralysed.
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