Maputo, 15 May (AIM) – A member of the Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) has been accused of murdering a 23-year-old individual for allegedly refusing denying to pay bribes in relations to a charge of drug trafficking.
According to the independent television channel “TV Sucesso”, the individual, named Nuno, was shot on Saturday, in Singathela neighbourhood, Matola municipality, by a police officer who was not on duty at the time.
The young man was then taken to Maputo Central Hospital, the largest health unit in the country, but he did not resist and succumbed to the severe injuries he had suffered.
“The alleged reason is that Nuno was killed because he refused to pay a bribe to a SERNIC agent that would allow him to continue selling drugs”, reported TV Sucesso.
Allegedly, the police officer approached the victim near his home and demanded payment of a bribe that would allow him to continue selling drugs in the neighbourhood.
For its part, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), a prominent Mozambican NGO, has condemned the attitude of the SERNIC member, and called for justice for the grieving family.
“This incident is one of several recent cases of human rights violations involving the abusive behavior of police officers. This year, more than five cases of murders, kidnappings and physical violence against defenseless citizens have been reported, which calls into question the actions of the police, especially at a time when the Mozambican Police (PRM) is celebrating its 49th anniversary”, reads the CDD statement.
(AIM)
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