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…demands explanation for leaked Scotstonletter
Morosi Zian
Former Small Business Development Minister Charlanet Fourie said in a“Allegations”The letter was allegedly written by convicted murderer and notorious criminal Lehlohonolo Scott.
Mr Fouri, who is also a prominent member of the All Basotho Convention (ABC), held the LCS accountable, accusing the department of gross negligence that led to the leak of such sensitive information.
The controversial letter, which was leaked to the media last week, contains shocking allegations linking high-profile government officials, including Mr Fourie, to Scott’s 2012 escape from the Maseru Central Correctional Facility maximum security prison.
Mr Phori therefore accused the LCS of failing to fulfil its responsibilitiesIsMaintaining the confidentiality and security of prisoner communications, particularly in such a high-profile case.
Mr. Phori made this request inSunday Express, Published an article titled “Former Minister Accused of Linking Scott Jailbreak”, in which Scott claimed that he escaped from a maximum security prison with the help of Fury and others,oneA few months after his 2012 arrest.
The renowned lawyer and former Minister of Justice, Human Rights, Corrections, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Haae Phoofolo KC, the late prominent businessman and ABC’s financial sponsor Thabiso Tšosane, and numerous LCS officials have also beenAllegedlyAssisting in escape.
Mr Phori’s lawyers, Hudssons Chambers, yesterday wrote to LCS Commissioner Mating Nkakala. The letter was also copied to Attorney General Richard Ramoeletsi, Attorney General Rapelang Motsieloa and Scott.
“We believe that every letter or report Scott wrote about his escape should be viewed in the broader context…
“We will not ignore the fact that Lelohonolo Scott had no access to the print media. Of course, this does not end the matter, because you are well aware that you are responsible for the leaking of the convicted criminal’s communications with the outside world and newspapers.”
Scott allegedly wrote four letters to LCS Deputy Commissioner Matingoe Phamotse requesting a meeting with the LCS commander to discuss the escape and the identity of the person who “helped” him escape. However, Phamotse denied any knowledge of the letters.
However, Mr Fourie has demanded that the letters be discovered, which he says will advise his next steps.
“We ask that you locate the letters and reports he (Scott) wrote so that we can adequately advise our client. We intend to approach this matter in an objectively verifiable manner to avoid a narrative that could become mired in a vortex of subjective uncertainty. This point raises an interesting inquiry that we believe must be conducted before dealing with your personnel’s mishandling of a sensitive security matter.
“For the record, our client has no relationship with Lehlohonolo Scott. We respectfully put on record that finger pointing is undesirable and unnecessary in this case.Sunday ExpressAs we are not releasing any information to the newspaper at this stage until the officials who coordinated the entire libel scheme have been identified and dealt with accordingly, we ask that you provide us with the letters and reports so that we can present our claim against the Government with sufficient accuracy and detail.
“We instruct you to ensure that Mr Phamotse and Scott receive this correspondence. We wish to ascertain whether Mr Phamotse’s explanation that he never received Scott’s letter or report is plausible, since it appears from the newspapers that the letter may have reachedthisReports were made to Mr Phamotse’s office at different times and for different purposes, without questioning or objecting. If Mr Phamotse received these letters but did not comply with his duty under the law to report the crime, we cannot ignore the fact that it would be helpful to clarify his actions unless there is a situation in which you may also be implicated.
“The Scott matter raises a number of careful legal issues of public importance that will affect the future conduct of LCS officers and prisoners.”
Mr. Fourie further alleged that the leak was a deliberate act by some within the LCS to tarnish its image. He called for a thorough investigation to identify and punish the leakers, insisting that such incidents would erode public trust in the country’s correctional institutions.
“Scott’s release or escape from prison has broader societal implications, and you must help clarify the legal and constitutional obligations of your office in order to convince citizens that you are fit for the job.
“We mention this only to show that we need answers, not Vaseline conspiracy theories. In any case, we also hope that you find the report we compiledgo throughThe report should have been shared with the victim’s family and the Lesotho High Court.
Mr Fourie said: “We gave all parties involved the opportunity to provide all evidence, if any, to show that steps had been taken to investigate allegations of misconduct in the prison service.”
Scott was first arrested on July 12, 2012, on charges of murdering his Kaurabata neighbours, Moholobela Seetsa and Kamohelo Mohata.
He was charged along with his mother, Malehlohonolo Scott, who lived together at the Koalabata residence where police found the remains of Lehata and Seetsa’s bodies.
On October 14, 2012, Scott escaped from prison, allegedly by smearing Vaseline on his body to get past the window barriers.
After nearly two years on the run, on April 6, 2014, at the request of the Lesotho Mounted Police, the South African Police Service arrested Scott again in Durban, South Africa. On May 5, 2015, Scott lost his case in the Verulam Magistrates Court and refused extradition. He was then extradited back to Lesotho on October 21, 2015 for trial.
On June 23, 2020, Judge Teboho Moiloa found Scott and Malehlohonolo guilty and sentenced Scott to life imprisonment, while his mother, who was seriously ill at the time, received a three-year suspended sentence. Malehlohonolo died in January 2021.They were accused of murder for ritual purposes.
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