Mozambique Police Arrest Seven, Including Officers, for Kidnapping and Murder

Seven individuals, including two police officers, were arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder of an Indian businessman in Chokwe, Mozambique. The victim was abducted and later killed, with the demands for ransom reportedly made to his family. Police investigations led to the seizure of firearms and vehicles linked to the crime.

The Mozambican police (PRM) reported the arrest of seven individuals related to the kidnapping and subsequent murder of an Indian businessman in Chokwe. The spokesperson for the National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic), Zaqueu Mucambe, revealed that among those apprehended are two police officers from Guija district.

The victim, a 36-year-old businessman whose identity remains undisclosed, was abducted by four armed assailants on March 3 as he exited his shop on Eduardo Mondlane Avenue. According to Carlos Macuacua, the head of public relations at the Gaza police command, the kidnappers brandished a firearm and forcibly took the victim into their vehicle.

Mucambe disclosed that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of two million meticais (approximately $31,000) from the victim’s family, although it is not confirmed if any payment was made. Tragically, the victim was murdered shortly after the demand; his remains were discovered buried in a shallow grave in Chivongoene, Guijá.

Three of the kidnappers were apprehended during a police operation on Sunday. They subsequently disclosed the location where they had held the businessman captive and where his body was buried. A forensic investigation is currently being conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death.

In total, seven suspects were detained, including the two police officers. The remaining suspects include business individuals and transport workers. Mucambe remarked that the motivation behind the police officers’ involvement stemmed from “measureless ambition.” All detainees, aged 32 to 45, have denied any connection to the kidnapping, with some providing alibis related to their occupations.

Sernic indicated that the police confiscated firearms, counterfeit documents, and two vehicles linked to the kidnapping during the investigation.

The Mozambican police have successfully apprehended multiple suspects connected to the kidnapping and murder of an Indian businessman. Notably, two of the arrested individuals are police officers, indicating a worrying breach of public trust. The investigation continues, with forensic examinations underway to determine the cause of death, and all suspects deny involvement, asserting their innocence amidst serious allegations.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com