Maputo, 22 Dec (AIM) – Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) on Thursday arrested three people in Maputo City, in connection with a kidnapping of a citizen in the up-market neighbourhood of Sommerschield.
According to SERNIC spokesperson, Hilário Lole, the kidnapping took place in November and the arrested individuals are aged between 21 and 46.
Lole said that the suspects were detained as the result of work carried out by the authorities to clear up the kidnappings reported recently, particularly in Maputo city and province.
“Efforts were made and, in the early hours of Thursday, it was possible to locate this place in Liberdade neighborhood (in Matola), where it was possible to rescue the victim who was taken to the doctor to assess her state of health”, he said.
“It was possible to neutralize three individuals. Two individuals were found at the place of captivity and, with further investigation, it was possible to neutralize the third individual in Maputo city”, he added.
According to Lole, two suspects, aged 35 and 46, were acting as guards at the place in Liberdade where they were holding the victim. The third suspect, aged 21, was responsible for logistics, looking after the victim’s food and other needs.
Lole explained that an operation is currently underway to neutralize a fourth member of the group, who is believed to be the key figure in the kidnap gang.
One of the detainees told reporters that he is not part of the group and claims that he only made purchases that his uncle asked for.
“I was called by my uncle so I could buy things to leave in the house, I didn’t know there was a kidnapped person there”, he said.
Another suspect, the oldest of the group, confessed, saying “I gave her (the victim) food, helped her go to the toilet, and they told me not to try and escape. I had to stay in the room with the girl, I didn’t leave, even when they arrived.”
SERNIC has already recorded six kidnappings this year. Two victims are still in captivity and there have been five cases of attempted kidnapping that were aborted thanks to the joint efforts of the police, the victims’ own initiative and members of the public.
(AIM)
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