Military detainees, who sued Maseru Central Correctional Institution (MCCI) after they were assaulted by Lesotho Correctional Service ( LCS) recruits, were not allowed to go to the hospital.

This was disclosed by one of the military detainees, Mr. Liphapang Sefako when testifying before the Commission Of Inquiry on the incidents of December 22, 2023.

Mr. Sefako, who earlier failed to testify before the Commission on grounds that they received threats from MCCI Management, said his name and those who sued the institution were not on the list of inmates who were supposed to see the doctor outside the facility after they were assaulted as  they were told the Officer in charge of MCCI clinic said they will be taken to hospital through court order.

He indicated that he has not  seen any doctor from December 22 until January 18, saying he was only attended by a nurse at the clinic who only prescribed medication for him and told him that he needed to see the doctor outside the facility but that never happened for 28 days.

He said he was the one who took action to ensure he was taken to the doctor and was taken to Makoanyane hospital on January 18 and was later taken for x-ray on February 13, saying the doctor recommended the backbone support due to fractures that he sustained during the assault and were identified on his back.

He stated that he bought the backbone support  and  he does not know whether he should go for a check up or not as his health booklet is kept at the clinic.

Meanwhile the Commission Of Inquiry Chairperson Justice Realeboha Mathaba told Mr. Sefako to inform the Commission should he be threatened after testifying.

The Commission, which was established in line with the Public Inquiries Act of 1994 shall amongst others, examine, appraise and evaluate the security measures within LCS, investigate on the instances around operations undertaken by members of LCS after the escape of inmates as well as to investigate and determine the circumstances that led to the use of force during the search operation.