Maseru, Sept. 23 — The Officer Commanding Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) Assistant Commissioner Tsoto Manaka says many people hate him and have falsely implicated him before the Commission of Inquiry on the escape of inmates.
Asst. Comm Manaka said this when testifying before the Commission on number of issues particularly the events of December 22, 2023 whereby several witnesses told the Commission that him and other two senior officers saw and heard the cries of inmates when they were being assaulted by the recruits during the search exercise that was conducted at the institution.
He narrated that an inmate by the name of Sekants’i earlier told the commission that he was not fit to command the institution and alleged that he was thief.
He further said other officers including some of the recruits alleged that they saw and heard inmates crying when they were being assaulted by the recruits as they passed by in block C to punishment cells during the search.
He added that another officer alleged that he did not stop the Christmas party which was planned to take place at the institution, yet he did as the inmates had escaped the previous day and officers were busy re-capturing the escaped inmates.
He therefore said all these issues demonstrate that people have been gunning for his head.
“It could be that I was wrongly placed because since I led the institution, there have been so many issues raised against me,” he added.
Asked to clarify what he meant by this, he continued that he was once falsely implicated as some people claimed he was responsible for soldiers who left the institution and were in charge of towers in central and new block.
He added that he once had a misunderstanding with Lesotho Correctional Service Commissioner over an inmate by the name of Mosoeunyane, saying it took him a long time to realize things were not good between him and the Commissioner as the latter even accused him of being a rebel.
“Personally, I have a doubt that the escape of inmates was orchestrated” he stressed, saying he had heard lately that one of the Deputy Commissioners alleged that he has abundant and left Correctional Officers in the hands of the commission.
“I believe it’s because I identified people who assaulted the late Bokang Tsoako on the footage ” he added.
On the other hand, the Officer Commanding Correctional Staff Training School, Assistant Commissioner Nthako, who testified first regarding the alleged cries of inmates told the Commission that he picked during his presence at MCCI to attend the Commission’s proceedings that some Officers dislike Ass. Comm. Manaka and his Deputy, based on how they salute them.
He also explained before the commission that they were falsely implicated regarding the cries of inmates and Asst. Comm. Manaka also reiterated that.
Meanwhile, MCCI second in charge Senior Superintendent Mahlelebe is due to testify on this matter as well.
Ends
