Mozambique: Islamic state claims three attacks in Cabo Delgado - AIM
Portugal's Secretary of State of Portuguese Communities Abroad, José Luís Carneiro. Picture: Lusa
A Portuguese businessman was found dead yesterday, near Maputo, after he had been kidnapped and the ransom had been paid, said Portugal’s Secretary of State of Portuguese Communities Abroad, José Luís Carneiro.
Speaking to the Lusa news agency yesterday, the official indicated that the victim was an entrepreneur, with “about 50 years of age.” who was in Mozambique “for eight years” and provided “support to civil construction sectors”.
“After being abducted, and after ransom being paid, he was found dead at the end of the afternoon today,” added José Luís Carneiro, who emphasised that “this is a serious case, of death, in the outskirts of Maputo “.
“We do not see links with other cases that have been occurring, in the north of the country or in the jurisdiction of Beira. In this case, let us wait for the investigations, but it is the result of a kidnapping and the demand of a payment to free the citizen. The payment was made, but he was still murdered by the criminals, ” Carneiro told Lusa.
Still without details of the case, the official said that “few hours went by between the demand for payment of the ransom and the citizen’s murder.”
The Portuguese government has already expressed its “concern, because it is a” very serious situation”.
The Portuguese Secretary of State of the Communities noted that the facts that have occurred in Mozambique “do not contribute to the confidence of the investors in the country, because the Portuguese are essential for the economic development of the country, creating thousands of jobs.”
The Portuguese government has expressed its “full availability” and so did the Portuguese embassy in Maputo to accompany the family in “legal proceedings that are under way and complaints have been lodged with the Mozambican authorities,” who are investigating the case.
Support has also been provided by the Portuguese government services to provide the necessary documents for the work of the Mozambican Public Prosecutor’s Office and to carry out, if necessary, the “repatriation of the body, because this seems to be the will of the family”.
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.