Maputo, 2 Nov (AIM) – Unidentified assailants on Wednesday morning kidnapped a young woman named Zakia Dassat, the daughter of an Asian businessman who works in the commercial sector, according to the independent daily “O País”.
The kidnapping took place in the Sommerschield neighbourhood in central Maputo, where many members of the Mozambican political elite live. The victim was walking to her car and was intercepted by two individuals, one of whom was armed.
An eyewitness said that shots were fired in the air by the criminals but nobody was injured. The kidnapping was caught on camera, so the number plate of the vehicle used by the kidnappers is known.
The Mozambican Police (PRM) has confirmed the kidnapping, without giving more details.
The kidnapping coincided with a speech given by Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda to the country’s parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, in which he claimed the police does not use excessive force in handling street demonstrations. As he was leaving the Assembly chamber, reporters tried to question Ronda about the latest kidnapping. He declined to answer.
In September, a kidnap gang released a businesswoman named Sheinaz Gani from captivity apparently due to health matters, as well as lack of money to pay for the ransom demanded. She had been in captivity for four months.
According to the Confederation of Mozambican Business Associations (CTA), the ransoms paid to kidnappers have cost Mozambican business people at least 2.2 billion meticais (about 34.4 million US dollars).
Kidnappings, mostly of businessmen of Asian origin, have occurred regularly in Mozambican cities since 2011.
(AIM)
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