Just In: Police arrests alleged kidnapper of businessman’s daughter – Lusa | Mozambique

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Just In: Police arrests alleged kidnapper of businessman’s daughter – Lusa | Mozambique

5:35 CAT | 24 Aug 2022

FILE - Illustrative photo. [File photo: Notícias]

The National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) presented today, in Beira, a suspect in the kidnapping of a student from the Catholic University of Mozambique, which took place in May in the provincial capital of Sofala.

“This individual was arrested on August 16, 2022 in Maputo province, under an arrest warrant issued by the Judicial Court of Sofala Province,” Alfeu Sitoe, Sernic spokesperson in Sofala province, central Mozambique, told the media.

The 32-year-old man is named by authorities as one of the kidnappers of a student at the Catholic University of Mozambique, a crime that took place on May 19.

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The 19-year-old victim is the daughter of a local businessman and was kidnapped moments after leaving the university premises by three unknown individuals who were being transported in a light vehicle.

The young woman would be released weeks later, the authorities confirmed, but without giving further details about the circumstances.

In addition to this crime, Sernic’s spokesman continued, the man is accused of having tried to rob an establishment in the city of Beira, having also been referenced in another case of abduction of a businessman, which took place in October 2020.

“As can be seen from his background, he is an individual with strong indications of the practice of various crimes against property and people’s freedom”, stressed Beira Alfeu Sitoe.

READ: Two Mozambicans kidnapped in Maputo within the space of an hour on Thursday – Watch

Some Mozambican cities, mainly provincial capitals, have been affected again since 2020 by a wave of kidnappings, mainly targeting businessmen or their families.

In an assessment on crime presented at the beginning of May, Mozambique’s Attorney General said that kidnappings have been increasing and criminal groups have cross-border ramifications, maintaining cells in countries such as South Africa.

According to Beatriz Buchili, 14 criminal cases of kidnapping had been registered in 2021, compared to 18 in 2020, but other cases escape official accounting, and in most cases, the outcome is unknown.

In November 2021, the Mozambique police launched a mixed force to respond to this type of crime, a group of officers who Rwandan specialists will train.

Source: Lusa