Ernic Presents Alleged Kidnapper
Maputo, 4 Jan (AIM) – Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) has announced the arrest of a man believed to be a member of the gang that kidnapped a citizen of Asian origin in Maputo on 3 October.
Cited in Wednesday’s issue of the independent daily “O Pais”, a Sernic spokesperson, Hilario Lole, said the alleged kidnapper was traced through the company which sold the car used in the crime.
“Sernic had information about the vehicle used”, said Lole. “It was purchased a few days before the crime at one of the Maputo city car stands”.
The kidnappers had left behind some data “which allowed us to track down this individual”, he added. The 35 year old man (whose name was not given in the report) was arrested in his home province of Gaza.
Presented to reporters, the suspect denied any involvement in the kidnapping. “I wasn’t even here at the time of the abduction”, he said. “I was in South Africa, and I came back on 15 December”.
Sernic had claimed, not only that he had purchased the car, but that he is building a house. The suspect protested that he does not own a car, “and I don’t have a house, because I’m living with my brother”.
Lole told the reporters that Sernic has other evidence against this man. “We have information that these individuals have residences in South Africa, and move between Mozambique and South Africa”, he said.
There were at least three people in this kidnap gang, two of whom (including the suspect shown to reporters) are brothers. “We are working to neutralize them, and to hold them responsible for their actions”, said Lole.
(AIM)
Pf/
