A private investigator, who was once a member of the South African Police Service (SAP) Mr. David Sykes says Phakiso Molise might have known before his escape that he would be escorted to the hospital on August 07 when he escaped.

In his testimony on Friday before the commission of inquiry regarding the escape of convicted prisoner Molise, Mr. Sykes said his observation is based upon the information that he obtained during his investigations that it was possible that Molise could have seen from the diary when the date for him to go for medical treatment was written.

He stated that Molise could possibly notice the date, which has been set for him, as he (Mr. Sykes) discovered that normally the prisoner stands just behind the Prison Officer when such prisoner is making an application to go for medical treatment, saying the prisoner can therefore see over the Prison Officer's shoulder what is being written, as such officer would be sitting on a chair. He further said, according to his investigations, Molise seemed to have been treated in a special manner, while still in the prison, citing an example whereby on July 09, Molise asked to be escorted to the bank to withdraw some money to buy some utensils that he would need that included cosmetics, saying Molise was escorted to that place where he ended up going for shopping.

Mr. Sykes considered it correct for Molise to be escorted to the bank in accordance with regulations that govern prisoners, saying what was actually wrong was to be allowed to go for shopping. Asked as to whether his investigations revealed any relationship between Molise and one 'Malefa Mapheleba, Mr. Sykes said it has been discovered that both people had what he termed as formal relations, saying that is evident from the fact that on December 17 last year Molise applied to be escorted to the bank where he would handover a cheque worth M2 600 to 'Malefa Mapheleba. 'Malefa Mapheleba is one of the people that are suspected to have assisted in the escape of Molise as she met him several times before his escape, including on the same day when Molise escaped at Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Maseru, where he went for medical treatment.

Responding to the question as to whether it was proper that Molise was under the escort of junior officers even though he was considered being dangerous, Mr. Sykes said he also found it strange. He however could not answer to some questions that included whether Molise got the passport from the department of Immigration as he applied, saying he would respond to such questions after completing his investigations, including the question regarding the validity of the passport that Molise was using by the time he applied for a new passport on April 02.The commission of inquiry that is investigating the escape of Molise is continuing.

27 October 2003