Mozambique: SERNIC investigating Kauchal Pandia kidnapping – PRM spokesman

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Mozambique: SERNIC investigating Kauchal Pandia kidnapping – PRM spokesman

4:18 CAT | 29 Jun 2020

Photo: Social Media

Kauchal Pandia was seized by three armed men on his way home from lunch in Maputo

A son of the owner of a well-known capulana shop in Maputo was kidnapped on Sunday afternoon in the centre of the capital, city police spokesman Leonel Muchina told Lusa today.

Kauchal Pandia was seized by three armed men on the corner of Vladimir Lenine and Emília Daússe avenues as he was heading home after lunch in a restaurant in Maputo. The three men and their victim left in a vehicle.

The case is now with the National Criminal Investigation Service [SERNIC].

In 2014, the victim’s father, Kishoor Chootalal, was abducted in Maputo by four armed men and was released a few weeks later, in circumstances which were never clarified.

Kishoor Chootalal is the owner of Casa Pandia – Modas e Confeções, one of the main stores selling capulana, a traditional fabric much sought after for ready-to-wear and decorative items.

This incident brings to eight the number of abductions of businessmen or their relatives since the beginning of 2020. Two of the victims were rescued by the police.

Abductions were decreasing after a wave of them in Mozambique’s main cities peaking between 2012 and 2013, but recent months have seen an upsurge.

Figures from the Attorney General’s Office indicate that 15 criminal kidnapping cases were opened in 2019, one more than in the previous year.

Source: Lusa