Two kidnappings in three days in Maputo – AIM report

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Two kidnappings in three days in Maputo – AIM report

8:38 CAT | 04 May 2022

File photo: Lusa

Unidentified assailants kidnapped two people on the streets of Maputo in the space of three days last week, according to a report in Tuesday’s issue of the independent newssheet “Carta de Mocambique”.

One of the victims, 20 year old Hafez Huzeifa, is the son of a muslim leader, Mufti Imtiaz. He was kidnapped by armed men at a crossroads in central Maputo shortly after 22.00 last Friday. The kidnappers were using two cars. Eye-witnesses said they smashed the windows of Huzeifa’s car with their guns, and dragged him out.

The second kidnapping occurred on 26 April at 11.00. Two cars blocked the path of a third vehicle driven by the son of a businessman of Asian origin, whose name has not yet been released. The kidnappers threatened their victim with an AK-47 assault rifle, dragged him from his vehicle into one of theirs. A passer-by tried to save the victim, but the criminals shot him in the foot.

Delivering her annual report on the State of Justice last week to the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, Attorney-General Beatriz Buchili confirmed the accusation made frequently in the Mozambican media that members of the police force are involved in the wave of kidnappings. This was a truly transnational crime with the kidnap gangs inside Mozambique working closely with criminals outside the country.

Buchili said the kidnappings had driven some business people to leave Mozambique altogether. Even when they were released from captivity, more money was demanded from the victims as a “freedom tax”.

But some of those who should be on the front line combatting the kidnappers are in league with them. “The involvement of some members of the police, lawyers, magistrates and other figures in the judiciary creates fragilities in investigating these cases”, said Buchili, “and endangers the safety of those public servants who are committed to fighting against crime”.

Source: AIM