Two Arrested For Trafficking IN Body Parts
Chimoio (Mozambique), 16 Dec (AIM) – The Mozambican police in Macate district, in the central province of Manica, have arrested two people for murder and trafficking in human body parts.
According to the Manica provincial police spokesperson, Mateus Mindu, those detained are the owner of a chain of flour mills in the region, and one of his domestic servants.
Mindu said that on Wednesday night they murdered a drunken citizen on the public highway, and then cut out parts of hs body for purposes of witchcraft. The two were surprised in possession of the dead man’s heart and genitals.
“They intercepted the victim in the street”, Mindu told reporters. “Because he was very drunk, they killed him, using a knife and other objects, and removed some of his organs”.
“The arrests were thanks to denunciations by members of the community who found the lifeless body”, he continued. “When we went to the site of the murder, we found that the body was missing some of its organs. From the work done with the Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic), we were able to neutralize these two citizens, who will be held responsible for this crime”.
Mindu urged local residents to remain vigilant and to denounce any practices contrary to public security and tranquility. He warned against going out at night in a state of drunkenness to avoid falling into the hands of criminals.
The servant said he had been working for the businessman for three months. Previously he had been an informal gold miner, until his mine was taken over by a Chinese company. Then he sought work as a domestic servant, and his employer enticed him into committing the murder.
“It was my boss who said we had to kill that person”, he claimed. “He said we would have a lot of money. He said we were to sell the parts. We used a knife and cut out the heart. He was drunk. I am very sorry”.
Earlier this week, the Manica police arrested two citizens caught red-handed trying to sell a four year old child for 80,000 meticais (about 1,250 dollars, at the current exchange rate).
They too had been informal gold miners, and decided to embark on a career of crime when they lost their mine.
(AlM)
Nm/pf (385)
