Why LCS bosses tried to conceal footage

’MATHATO SEBOKA

MASERU — Top management at the Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS) believed that leaked footage could exacerbate an already tense situation if it were made public.

This concern was raised during a meeting held at the Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) on January 10, 2024, where officers discussed strategies to conceal the evidence.

The meeting, which was secretly recorded by Assistant Superintendent Samson Rasehloho, included senior officials such as Deputy Commissioner Mosheoane Tšolo, Senior Assistant Commissioner Matete Mahao, Senior Superintendent Martin ’Molaoa, and Sergeant Lerato Thola.

The explosive audio recording was later presented before the Commission of Inquiry led by High Court Judge Realeboha Mathaba, shedding light on the disturbing conversations that took place. During the meeting, ’Molaoa expressed concerns about the potential impact of the footage showing recruits assaulting inmates.

“The question was raised whether the cameras were recording properly and if those recordings were accessible. The cameras captured incidents of recruits assaulting inmates, and if that footage is released, it will undoubtedly worsen the situation,” he explained.

He further revealed the dilemma they faced, stating: “It was clear from the footage that the inmates had been assaulted, so if the footage becomes public, it would reveal the full extent of what happened, which would have serious repercussions.”

In the midst of their deliberations, various ideas were thrown around. “At one point, I suggested that the footage should be completely deleted, but it was ultimately up to the experts to decide if that was possible,” ‘Molaoa admitted. Tšolo explained that the meeting had been prompted by orders from Commissioner Nkakala.

“The Commissioner instructed me to await the arrival of the Ombudsman to review the footage. I arrived at the facility with Senior Assistant Commissioner Mahao. I cannot recall what exactly led to the discussion, but it was certainly not an official meeting. “As a Deputy Commissioner, I would not normally make decisions with officers of lower rank, as it would undermine the authority of the LCS,” Tšolo said.

When questioned by Judge Mathaba about the appropriateness of such discussions in his presence, the Deputy Commissioner admitted: “It was inappropriate, and I should have stopped them. I was unaware we were being recorded, and in retrospect, I consider it an act of insubordination. Assistant Superintendent Rasehloho who also attended the meeting should have known better.”

Mahao also testified, recalling that Rasehloho seemed visibly unsettled upon his arrival at MCCI. “Rasehloho had just come from the Deputy Commissioner’s office, feeling overwhelmed by the situation. He suggested we do something about the footage, like delete it, which sparked the discussion,” he explained.

Judge Mathaba confronted Mahao about his role in persuading Rasehloho to enter the control room despite his reluctance. “Rasehloho was indeed hesitant, as the audio reveals. He did not want to go to the control room, fearing he might later be accused of deleting the footage or implicating fellow officers,” Mahao conceded.

He defended his decision to let the conversation continue, saying, “Sometimes, to avoid unnecessary delays, there are subtle ways to rebuke someone. I chose to ignore the suggestions rather than confront them directly.” During cross-examination, Rasehloho revealed his discomfort with the entire situation.

“I was not happy about being brought to the MCCI on January 9, 2024. The way I was fetched from Juvenile (Juvenile Training Centre) was disturbing. When I went to the regional office the following day, I tried to express my concerns, but no one listened and I was ordered to go to MCCI. That is when I decided to record the meeting for my own security,” Rasehloho told the Commission this week.

He further described the events of January 9, explaining: “I was called to Central (MCCI), where I met Assistant Superintendent Mahlelebe. He contacted the Commissioner in my presence, but I made it clear that I did not want to interfere with the camera issue.

“We eventually went to the MCCI yard to prepare the footage for the Ombudsman. I requested to work the following morning so that I could play the video for her, as it had been a while since I had handled the cameras.”