TOP officers of the Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS) wanted to destroy CCTV footage showing prison warders assaulting an inmate to death. The footage also shows the warders severely assaulting other inmates. The details of the attempted cover-up were revealed in a leaked audio clip that was played at the Commission of Inquiry into the December 2023 escape at the Maseru Central Correctional Facility this week.
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The clip was secretly recorded by Assistant Superintendent Samson Rasehloho at a meeting where senior officers discussed what to do with the incriminating footage days after the inmate’s murder and brutal torture of hundreds of others.
Deputy Commissioner Mosheoane Tšolo, Deputy Commissioner Mahao, Senior Superintendent Mating ’Molaoa and other officers were in the meeting.
In the clip, Senior Superintendent ’Molaoa and Deputy Commissioner Tšolo are heard putting pressure on Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho to delete some parts of the footage.
One officer suggested that Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho delete the incriminating parts and claim that the “cameras often jam and act abnormal”.
Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho is heard saying deleting the footage would only put him in trouble as some warders and inmates already knew of the existence of the footage. He said he was in danger because if he kept the footage his colleagues would say he had sold them out and if he deleted it his superiors would hold him responsible as the head of technicians.
At some point, Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho is heard suggesting that the facility hire someone to delete the footage.
That suggestion was however rejected by Assistant Superintendent ’Molaoa who told him that regardless of what everyone would think, Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho had all the power to do as he pleased with the cameras.
Deputy Commissioner Tšolo is heard telling the meeting that “we will tell them that some things were deleted during camera fixing”.
“If they refuse our explanation, it is up to them. They will contest it in courts,” Deputy Commissioner Tšolo said.
The CCTV footage showed the brutal assault of Bokang Tsoako, an inmate who later died as a result of his injuries.
It also showed the assault of another recaptured inmate, Bokang Motumi.
Warders like Marebole and Sekokotoana were captured entering a cell of one Tlotliso Bereng holding sticks. Bereng is now permanently in a wheelchair after the vicious assault.
The attempt to destroy the footage was also confirmed by Justice Minister Richard Ramoeletsi during his testimony this week.
Ramoeletsi told the commission that he didn’t know about the concealed footage until he received a WhatsApp tip-off from Chief Officer Bokang Ramotena.
He said Chief Officer Ramotena told him that the footage was in the operations room but some managers wanted to delete it.
The minister said he then instructed Commissioner Mating Nkakala to urgently bring all the footage to his office. Ramoeletsi says when Commissioner Nkakala told him that it would not be easy to retrieve and transfer the footage, he used his own money to buy external hard drives.
He told the commission led by Justice Realeboha Mathaba that when they realised that the hard drives did not have enough space “they had to confiscate all the equipment to my office while sourcing funds to buy bigger hard drives”.
Ramoeletsi says on the same day he watched the footage with Commissioner Nkakala and his deputies whowere shocked by what they saw.
“They were all silent. You could visibly see that they were worried,” Ramoeletsi said.
The commission asked Deputy Commissioner Tšolo to explain what the meeting was all about.
Deputy Commissioner Tšolo replied that “the person who leaked the audio clip should be the one presenting it”.
“He should be the one explaining everything to the commission,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Tšolo said the person who leaked the clip should take the witness box and testify so that he is cross-examined.
Deputy Commissioner Tšolo argued that the commission should have hired an expert to verify if the audio was genuine.
“The audio clip starts in the middle of the meeting. This is unusual,” he said.
He pointed out that their meetings are normally recorded using pen and paper.
“But I am aware of a gathering where such things were said.”
Deputy Commissioner Tšolo also said when he arrived in the meeting Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho was the one who suggested that they should get rid of the CCTV footage.
“He said the footage would tarnish the institution’s image, therefore it should be deleted,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Mahao told the commission that “it is unconventional or legal that a person can record a conversation without the consent” of people in the conversation.
He added that in that meeting, Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho never indicated to the meeting attendees that he was recording their conversation.
“Did you tell us that you were recording us,” he asked Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho during the hearing.
Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho said he did not tell them “because you would stop talking about things incriminating you”.
“I did it for my safety as I knew you wanted to delete the footage,” Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho said.
Deputy Commissioner Mahao pleaded with the commission to disregard the audio clip as it was just “casual talk between managers”.
“The way it was obtained was unconventional and unlawful,” he said.
The commission has revealed that prison warders torture inmates with impunity and sometimes with tacit encouragement from their bosses.
In fact, some of the bosses took part in the December 2023 torture that left one inmate dead, one paralysed and hundreds others severely injured.
Commissioner Nkakala admitted so at the commission and confirmed that his directive to stop the use of torture had been ignored.
Commissioner Nkakala admitted that he doesn’t have much control over his officers and some don’t support him.
Justice Mathaba said most of the problems Commissioner Nkakala mentioned during his testimony showed that the LCS lacked leadership and teamwork.
Deputy Commissioner Mosheoane Tšolo, Deputy Commissioner Mahao, Senior Superintendent Mating ’Molaoa and other officers were in the meeting.
In the clip, Senior Superintendent ’Molaoa and Deputy Commissioner Tšolo are heard putting pressure on Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho to delete some parts of the footage.
One officer suggested that Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho delete the incriminating parts and claim that the “cameras often jam and act abnormal”.
Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho is heard saying deleting the footage would only put him in trouble as some warders and inmates already knew of the existence of the footage. He said he was in danger because if he kept the footage his colleagues would say he had sold them out and if he deleted it his superiors would hold him responsible as the head of technicians.
At some point, Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho is heard suggesting that the facility hire someone to delete the footage.
That suggestion was however rejected by Assistant Superintendent ’Molaoa who told him that regardless of what everyone would think, Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho had all the power to do as he pleased with the cameras.
Deputy Commissioner Tšolo is heard telling the meeting that “we will tell them that some things were deleted during camera fixing”.
“If they refuse our explanation, it is up to them. They will contest it in courts,” Deputy Commissioner Tšolo said.
The CCTV footage showed the brutal assault of Bokang Tsoako, an inmate who later died as a result of his injuries.
It also showed the assault of another recaptured inmate, Bokang Motumi.
Warders like Marebole and Sekokotoana were captured entering a cell of one Tlotliso Bereng holding sticks. Bereng is now permanently in a wheelchair after the vicious assault.
The attempt to destroy the footage was also confirmed by Justice Minister Richard Ramoeletsi during his testimony this week.
Ramoeletsi told the commission that he didn’t know about the concealed footage until he received a WhatsApp tip-off from Chief Officer Bokang Ramotena.
He said Chief Officer Ramotena told him that the footage was in the operations room but some managers wanted to delete it.
The minister said he then instructed Commissioner Mating Nkakala to urgently bring all the footage to his office. Ramoeletsi says when Commissioner Nkakala told him that it would not be easy to retrieve and transfer the footage, he used his own money to buy external hard drives.
He told the commission led by Justice Realeboha Mathaba that when they realised that the hard drives did not have enough space “they had to confiscate all the equipment to my office while sourcing funds to buy bigger hard drives”.
Ramoeletsi says on the same day he watched the footage with Commissioner Nkakala and his deputies whowere shocked by what they saw.
“They were all silent. You could visibly see that they were worried,” Ramoeletsi said.
The commission asked Deputy Commissioner Tšolo to explain what the meeting was all about.
Deputy Commissioner Tšolo replied that “the person who leaked the audio clip should be the one presenting it”.
“He should be the one explaining everything to the commission,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Tšolo said the person who leaked the clip should take the witness box and testify so that he is cross-examined.
Deputy Commissioner Tšolo argued that the commission should have hired an expert to verify if the audio was genuine.
“The audio clip starts in the middle of the meeting. This is unusual,” he said.
He pointed out that their meetings are normally recorded using pen and paper.
“But I am aware of a gathering where such things were said.”
Deputy Commissioner Tšolo also said when he arrived in the meeting Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho was the one who suggested that they should get rid of the CCTV footage.
“He said the footage would tarnish the institution’s image, therefore it should be deleted,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Mahao told the commission that “it is unconventional or legal that a person can record a conversation without the consent” of people in the conversation.
He added that in that meeting, Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho never indicated to the meeting attendees that he was recording their conversation.
“Did you tell us that you were recording us,” he asked Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho during the hearing.
Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho said he did not tell them “because you would stop talking about things incriminating you”.
“I did it for my safety as I knew you wanted to delete the footage,” Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho said.
Deputy Commissioner Mahao pleaded with the commission to disregard the audio clip as it was just “casual talk between managers”.
“The way it was obtained was unconventional and unlawful,” he said.
The commission has revealed that prison warders torture inmates with impunity and sometimes with tacit encouragement from their bosses.
In fact, some of the bosses took part in the December 2023 torture that left one inmate dead, one paralysed and hundreds others severely injured.
Commissioner Nkakala admitted so at the commission and confirmed that his directive to stop the use of torture had been ignored.
Commissioner Nkakala admitted that he doesn’t have much control over his officers and some don’t support him.
Justice Mathaba said most of the problems Commissioner Nkakala mentioned during his testimony showed that the LCS lacked leadership and teamwork.
Nkheli Liphoto
