Maputo, 12 Aug (AIM) – The Sofala Provincial Law Court, sitting in the central Mozambican city of Beira, on Monday sentenced a member of the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR – the Mozambican riot police) to 14 years imprisonment for armed robbery.
The court found that the policeman, Manuel Daidai Joao, together with an unnamed accomplice, who is currently on the run, on 22 January used his pistol to rob a mobile wallet agent in the Beira neighbourhood of Manga.
Riding a motorcycle, Joao approached his victim and asked him if he could change the Mozambican currency, meticais, into Zambian kwacha. When he said he could not, Joao pretended to return the money to his pocket, but then drew out a pistol.
The two men fought hand-to-hand, and in the ensuing confusion, Joao’s accomplice grabbed the briefcase the victim was carrying, and made his getaway on another motorcycle.
According to the judge, Ana Muchacha, the thieves stole 250,000 meticais (about 4,000 US dollars) and two mobile phones.
She sentenced Joao to 14 years imprisonment for the crime of aggravated robbery. In addition, he must pay his victim compensation of 313,350 meticais. Joao was granted conditional release, and has 20 days to appeal against the sentence.
(AIM)
Pf/ (211)
