Police defy court order to release businessman

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Police defy court order to release businessman

11:22 CAT | 17 Oct 2018

File photo: Notícias

The Mozambican police have failed to implement a court order demanding the conditional release of South African businessman Andre Hannekom – and currently nobody will even confirm his whereabouts, according to Tuesday’s issue of the independent newssheet “Mediafax”.

Hannekom is being held by the police on suspicion of involvement in the terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists in parts of the northern province of Cabo Delgado. “Mediafax” reports that those who know Hannekom regard the accusation as senseless.

Last Wednesday, 10 October, the Palma District Court ordered the release of Hannekom on bail. The bail (the amount of which “Mediafax” was unable to discover) was deposited in the District Court’s bank account on the afternoon of 9 October.

The following day, Hannekom’s wife, Frances, went to the jail in the town of Mocimboa da Praia where Hannekom was being held, but she was unable to secure his release, despite the court order.

She spent much of the following day, 11 October, shuttling between the prison and the police command, each of whom told her to contact the other institution. She returned to Palma, to tell the court how its orders were being disrespected. The clerk of the court merely said “We have done our part. There is nothing more we can do”.

Accompanied by a lawyer, Frances Hannekom has continued her efforts to free her husband, but without any success – despite the clear command in the Mozambican constitution that it is obligatory on all citizen and institutions to obey court decisions, which take priority over the decisions of any other bodies.

Contacted by “Mediafax” on Monday neither the police nor the Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) would confirm Hannekom’s whereabouts. “This matter is the responsibility of SERNIC”, said Inacio Dina, the spokesperson for the General Command of the police.

When the paper turned to SERNIC spokesperson Leonardo Simbine, he demanded that “Mediafax” send him its questions in writing.

Hannekom was seized by the police on 1 August and suffered gunshot wounds under circumstances that have yet to be explained. A day later he was seen in the hospital in Mueda district. The police story then was that he had been rescued from criminal hands and must stay under police protection. He was then transferred to the hospital in the Cabo Delgado provincial capital, Pemba. The story was still that he was being “protected”.

But when he left hospital he was not taken home but was placed under arrest in Mocimboa da Praia. No details of the charges against him have been made public.

Source: AIM