Mozambique: Kidnap victims blackmailed after being released

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Mozambique: Kidnap victims blackmailed after being released

4:34 CAT | 27 Apr 2022

Photo: O País

Mozambique’s attorney general said on Wednesday that “victims of kidnapping” in the country are “constantly blackmailed” by kidnappers for payment of money even after their release, exacerbating their feeling of insecurity.

“This situation has created a feeling of insecurity for citizens, especially the victims, who remain hostages even after their physical release, being constantly blackmailed for payment,” Beatriz Buchili said.

Buchili was speaking in parliament during the annual information session of the Attorney General of the Republic, which began today and ends on Thursday.

The actions of the kidnappers make the victims feel they are owed money, especially when the targets have not paid the ransom in full, she said.

The attorney general said that kidnapping crimes had been on the rise, mainly in the city of Maputo in the south and Sofala province in the centre, and the “criminal groups” had cross-border ramifications, maintaining “cells” in countries such as South Africa.

In this regard, he said, there was a need to strengthen coordination with neighbouring countries affected by these crimes.

Beatriz Buchili said that in 2021 the country recorded 14 cases of kidnapping compared to 18 in 2020.

“To tackle this type of criminality, we have been acting on the preventive and repressive aspects, including the use of cooperation instruments at the international level and in the SADC [Southern African Development Community] region, emphasising South Africa,” she emphasised.

Domestically, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has stepped up coordination with telecommunications services, credit institutions, and financial companies to ensure the flow of information about suspected kidnappings..

Source: O País