I WAS HELD AT GUNPOINT BY MOLISE'S ABDUCTORS -MAHAO

One of the witnesses, giving testimony before the Commission of Inquiry on Molise's escape from Queen Elizabeth II hospital on August 7, Assistant Prison Officer Khoai Mahao, says a silver-grey Skyline vehicle pulled off beside them and one man who was sitting in the back-seat of the car opened the rear window and pointed a big firearm at him. He said he had gone to buy some fruits with Phakiso Molise from one of the
hawkers just outside the main gate of the hospital.

Assistant Mahao, who explained to the Commission that while he  was held at  gunpoint, Molise started towards the car, got inside and it was at this time that the vehicle drove away taking the south direction of the Mpilo Boulevard highway road. He told the Commission that the other Prison Officer, Monyane Thahanyane who was around the main gate of the hospital also saw the incident and they agreed     that Mahao should go back into the hospital and ask for a telephone so that he could report to their superiors back at the Central Prison about the escape of Molise, but the phone was engaged.

When asked by the Commission whether the person of his rank (assistant Prison Officer) was supposed to escort Molise, Mahao indicated that it was actually uncommon, adding that in normal situations the prisoners who are considered to be of a high risk like Molise are escorted by Principal Officers.

Also testifying before the Commission the other witness, Prison Officer, Monyane Thahanyane explained said  prior  Molise's escape, two unknown people, a woman and a man had appeared from the Eye Clinic at   the  hospital, spoke to Molise for a little while and left. The Commission also took an inspection tour of the Eye-Clinic at the Queen Elizabeth II hospital and Thahanyane showed the Commission where Molise met with the two people who spoke to him.He disclosed that  it is at that spot outside the main gate of the hospital where the car which helped Molise to escape picked him up.

The testimony of these Prison Officers is intended to assist the Commission to find out whether any of the Prison Officers of the central Prison were negligent from their duty on the day that Phakiso Molise escaped from Queen Elizabeth II hospital on August 7.This was the second proceeding of the Commission of the Inquiry, which was appointed by the Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili to inquire into the escape of Phakiso Molise and the general management and administration of Lesotho Prison service. The proceedings of the Commission are still  continuing. 

15 October 2003