Maputo, 24 Jun (AIM) – The Mozambican police have seized a property in the southern city of Matola, allegedly used by kidnappers to imprison their victims.
The National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) invited journalists to see the property on Tuesday. It is part of a luxury condominium known as Tchumene, located in a quiet part of the city.
From the outside there is no indication that it has been used as a private prison. On the inside it is clear that the flat has not been regularly inhabited. Sernic said the criminals had made some modifications, seeking to isolate the kidnap victims from the outside world.
One of those known to have been held at Tchumene is the owner of a stationery shop on Ho Chi Minh Avenue in central Maputo, who was kidnapped on 26 June. He managed to open a window and escape.
Sernic Maputo city spokesperson, Hilario Lole, told reporters that the house was also used to hold the victims of the most recent Maputo kidnappings, which took place on Saturday and Monday.
Lole said these kidnappings were all the work of the same gang. Sernic now knew who the kidnappers were and who was giving them their instructions.
“These are individuals who come from South Africa”, he said. Sernic had information that one of them has now returned to South Africa.
The local block chief, in Tchumene neighbourhood, Hortencia Mondlane, cited by the independent television station STV, said she does not know who owns the flats in the condominium, since when they are called to meetings, they never show up.
“We have often called the owners of these places to meetings, but they never appear”, she said. “When we go to their houses, they send guards with dogs to speak to us. This is a situation which worries us”.
The condominium seems well guarded, Entry is by a padlocked gate, which must be unlocked before anyone can enter or leave. Hence the condominium security staff must know who is inside the building, but have made no attempt to stop the kidnappers.
Even more damning, the condominium is next door to a police station. The police have a clear view of anyone entering or leaving.
When Sernic raided the condominium, none of the kidnap gang could be found. The only person present was a youth aged about 30, whom Sernic accuses of collaborating with the kidnappers.
He claimed to be working as a private security guard, for which he received a wage of 6,000 meticais (about 94 US dollars) a month. He said he knew the owner, but was not aware of anyone using the flat as a jail.
(AIM)
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