Maputo, 25 Feb (AIM) – The Manhica District Court, in the southern Mozambican province of Maputo, on Tuesday ordered the immediate release of eight members of the National Alliance for a Free and Autonomous Mozambique (Anamola), declaring that there was no evidence that they had committed any crime.
Anamola, which is led by former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, has repeatedly denounced political harassment by the police against its members and supporters.
According to the investigating judge, Mariza Saiete, the detention of these eight individuals occurred without a warrant. They were not caught while committing any crime, the police invaded their homes and then failed to immediately notify the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The court’s decision follows a habeas corpus petition filed by the defendants’ lawyer. The judge explained that habeas corpus is a constitutional mechanism designed to protect individual liberty against illegal or abusive arrests or detentions.
After analyzing the case files and hearing from the detainees and the police officer responsible for the detention, the court concluded that the legal grounds invoked by the defense were met.
The eight detainees (named as Júlio Chivambo, Júlio Cossa, Nelson Psungo, Santos Mandlate, Henriqueta Dzuvane, Gina Mutote, Rui Chivambo, and José Bila) were immediately set free.
(AIM)
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