Mozambique: SERNIC arrests alleged kidnapper - Watch
Photo: O País
A SERNIC (National Criminal Investigation Service) agent has been arrested in Beira for allegedly shooting a neighbour in Beira last Saturday.
The citizen is out of danger, but his family are demanding that justice be done, since the perpetrator of the crime is apparently going unpunished.
The man shot, Valindo Reginaldo, said that he was talking to a friend of his, a border police officer, near his house, when his neighbour, a SERNIC agent, came down the street and approached them.
“He first greeted us and asked who the person with me was,” Reginaldo explained. “I said that he was a friend of mine, and a member of the Defence and Security Forces. Unfortunately, my neighbour, who was apparently drunk, claimed that he was a malefactor. A lively discussion started between my neighbour and my friend. In an attempt to quell the mood, the SERNIC agent drew his pistol and fired several shots. I blacked out, and woke up in the treatment room.”
Reginaldo said that the behaviour of the agent in question was a matter of concern in the neighbourhood where they live.
“He rapes women and threatens his victims and neighbours who try to bring cases to justice, especially when he is under the influence of alcohol. There was a demonstration in my neighbourhood on Saturday aimed at putting an end to these mistreatments,” he said.
This Monday, the family went to the Second Police Station in Beira to demand justice, because the agent in question was only detained for a few hours last Saturday.
SERNIC spokesman Alfeu Sitoe confirmed the involvement of one of its agents in the case mentioned, adding that the agent had been detained and that criminal and disciplinary processes were underway.
Sitoe said that the preliminary investigation concluded that “the victim greeted him that morning using his nickname, Weia, at which the element of the border police started to laugh and make fun of him”.
“At this, our colleague, who had just finished work, drew his pistol. The border officer jumped out and grabbed his arm. In an attempt to prevent the gun from being pulled out of his grip, six shots were fired. One of the bullets hit the victim in the side of the belly. The bullet exited on the other side, hitting his arm,” Sitoe explained.
By Francisco Raiva
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.