‘Mantšali Phakoana
A high-ranking officer at Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) on Monday this week threatened inmates summoned to testify before the ongoing Commission of Inquiry not to reveal names of officers who assaulted them during an alleged search operation on December 22, 2023.
Members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) detained at the MCCI said Assistant Commissioner Tsoto Manaka, who is in charge of the facility, also reminded them that the commission was not here to stay, and they would continue to face the same officials they are implicating.
But testifying before the commission this week, the inmates said they were determined to tell the truth, even if it meant defying Ass Comm Manaka’s orders.
Private Tieho Tikiso said Ass Comm Manaka this week summoned a meeting where he warned that inmates expected to testify should bear in mind that the commission was not there to facilitate their release.
“He also told us that just like an internal commission established by government to probe disturbances at the centre in December last year and prior investigations undertaken by the Ombudsman, this current commission will leave and we will eventually be left with them (officers). He concluded by urging us to unite and not point fingers at each other,” he noted.
Private Tikiso also submitted that he was assaulted alongside his cell mates; Thabang Tsitsa, Rethabile Raboi, Teboho Koetle, Mohau Ramookho, Rameno Keketsi, Tšoeu and Patrick Khechane who has not been able to urinate properly since he was tortured.
He identified correctional officer Mahao as one of the officers who assaulted him on December 22 2023 at around 6am.
Private Tikiso said the officer grabbed him by the collar and pushed him towards the corridor with his belongings to be searched.
He noted that after harshly asking him if he was fighting, Mahao was joined by other officers who assaulted him until he fell onto the floor.
“I don’t know what happened but only saw myself on the floor, with the officers trampling on my body,” Private Tikiso pointed out.
He added that he was surprised by the way Officer Mahao searched his belongings since he did not search his plastic bags separately; he only took and threw them out of the bigger bag without checking them thoroughly or searching pockets as it is usually the case.
Meanwhile, Staff Sergeant Malefane Heqoa who also narrated his ordeal before the commission said his cell was searched by 15 officers. Eight of them assaulted him with a gumboot that has a metal object in front belonging to an inmate, sticks and a mop.
He revealed this during the cross examination by Sergeant Sekokotoana’s lawyer, after he had alleged that the latter was among the officers who assaulted him.
But Sekokotoana’s lawyer insisted that his client did not assault the inmate. Rather, he said, Sekokotoana ordered the officers who were assaulting the inmates to stop although they defied his orders. He however, did not name the officers.
Staff Sergeant Heqoa however, insisted that most the senior officers who were ordering the assault to stop had made such instructions to seize an opportunity to take part in the assault.
“I cannot confirm whether Sergeant Sekokotoana instructed the assailants to stop, but all I can confirm is that he was among those who assaulted me. I am sure about that because I have known him for a long time since I have been in here.
“Nevertheless, there were many senior officers shouting ‘as you were’ which is an instruction made by seniors to juniors instructing them to stop whatever actions they are doing. The same seniors who were making such instructions would then start assaulting us, as their juniors stopped. They did not make such instructions genuinely but for them to all have a piece of the cake (assaulting the inmates),” he added.
In his testimony, Staff Sergeant Heqoa said ASP Masiloane, Sergeant Lekhapetla, Sergeant Senekale, Chief Officer Tsietsi and Chief Officer Mpeo were among the senior officers who witnessed when he was tortured but failed to protect him.
Yet another inmate, Liphapang Sefako, also indicated that Ass Comm Manaka had threatened them during Monday’s meeting.
Sefako was however, excused from testing before the commission publicly due to fear of victimisation.
He said he regarded the assistant commissioner’s statement as a threat, which he would not defy in public but only in camera.
Sefako added his testimony would implicate some correctional officers who assaulted him and further blocked his lawyer from seeing him after the assault.
“I took his statement (Ass Comm Manaka) as a threat to me because I have spent seven years here and that means if I defy his orders, I could spend 30 more. The question is what would happen to me following Ass Comm Manaka’s statements?” he quipped.
Ass Comm Manaka testified last week that he did not know the officers who had assaulted the inmates since he had not seen the video footage on the day.
Later, after he was given an opportunity to watch the footage, Ass Comm Manaka noted that there are about 60 officers together with their seniors who assaulted the inmates.
He also revealed the names of three officers who were seen assaulting one Bokang Tsoako who died after he was recaptured. The names of all these officers will be revealed in camera later.
The commission of inquiry led by Justice Realeboha Mathaba was established to investigate and determine circumstances that led to the use of force during a search operation at MCCI in December last year.
The commission was also mandated to consider the report of the Ombudsman and of the commissioner of LCS and any other documents relevant to the inquiry.
Justice Mathaba on Wednesday this week emphasised that it was important that witnesses identify the real culprits in the incidents that occurred on December 21 and 22 last year since there will be serious repercussions to those who would be found guilty.
“In a democratic country like Lesotho, officers who assaulted the inmates have committed a serious crime and must face consequences. They must be criminally charged and dismissed from their duties because they are not fit to be correctional officers.
“Therefore, it is important that as you give our testimonies, you are sure that you are pointing to the real culprits,” Justice Mathaba warned.
