HALF THE  PRISONERS WERE MOLISE'S FOLLOWERS-LEHLOENYA

 Senior Prison Officer, Mohlanka Lehloenya says convicted prisoner Phakiso Molise was followed by approximately 50 per cent of prisoners in the Central Prison of Lesotho who had the same political affiliation with him. Mohlanka was giving his evidence before the Commission of Inquiry on Monday. However, he explained to the Commission that he also knew Molise as one of the most disciplined and submissive prisoners, who never had any disciplinary cases.

He showed that while still in prison Molise took part in various developmental activities within the prison such as teaching other prisoners how to read and write and he had also established himself as a choirmaster of one gospel groups in the prison. He further told the Commission that even though he knew that Molise was a high-risk prisoner who among others was convicted of mutiny he never thought he could escape from the prison.

When also giving his evidence before the Commission, Chief Prison Officer Ramaili Ramaili said Principal Prison Officer Letlaka Letlaka never reported to him that he would not be in the gang, which escorted Molise and other prisoners to Queen Elizabeth II hospitals on August 7, 2003.He explained that if Letlaka had reported to him that he would not be in the escort to the hospital that morning he would have made the necessary arrangements for another Senior Prison Officer to replace Letlaka in that escort.

He told the commission that on the day of Molise's escape from the hospital he was working in the Condemned Unit and was occupied there for the rest of that day, saying that he only learnt about Molise's escape later that day. However, he also agreed to the fact that Molise was allowed to go out to do his personal banking as other prisoners were also allowed to but he denied the allegation that Molise was given any other special treatment different from others. This Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating into the matter of Molise's escape from Queen Elizabeth II hospital on August 7 2003, is now in its second week. The inquiries are expected to end after 30 days.

21 October 2003