Out of the nine prisoners who recently escaped from Moshopa Prison, four of them have already been re-arrested by both police and prison officials.
One of the escapees, Keiphemetse Bibo Seswaa Kamanga, was caught at Old Naledi, whereas Jealous Gemesis Lemphe and Phemelo Tlale, also known as Keorapetse Modise, were nabbed in Jwaneng.
The fourth one, Kebafentse Kgotlaesele, was found and caught at Tsolamosese at midnight last Thursday.
“All of the prisoners will be tried for escaping from lawful custody,” said Superintendent Molefhe.” The search is still on for the remainder; we are following their tracks.”
The Public Relations Officer in the Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation, Senior Superintendent Wamorena Ramolefhe told Sunday Standard that “on the 2nd of this month about nine male prisoners aged between 16 and 20 escaped from Moshopa prison.”
Although he was reluctant to disclose how the alleged prisoners escaped, he explained that the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday 2nd September.
“The 9 male prisoners cut the fence and escaped,” said Ramolefhe in an interview with Sunday Standard.
He said disclosing how they escaped may disturb police investigations.
“It is for security reasons that we do not want to let the public know,” Ramolefhe said.
Amone Mlambo, Dipono Ookeditse, Omphile Kamela of Serowe and Keorapetse Modise of Mogobane are armed robbery suspects while Keiphemetse Bibo Seswaa Kamanga of Tlokweng was convicted on two counts of rape and is serving 11 years imprisonment.
Ramolefhe further said, “Jealous Gemesis Lemphe of Molepolole is also serving 5 years for both armed robbery and rape. Kebafentse Kgotlaesele of Tlokweng was sentenced to 3 years and 3 months for stock theft. Christopher Shonhai, a Zimbabwean national, was sentenced for 5 years for stock theft as well.
The police said investigations are still ongoing and the public is asked to assist with any information that could lead to the arrest of the remainder of the escaped prisoners.
Molefhe said it is the first large group to escape since Moshupa Prison was opened in 2009.
