The National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) today presented a citizen involved in the kidnapping of a citizen of Asian descent, on November 1, 2023, in the city of Maputo. It was neutralized on January 8th of this year.

According to the police spokesman, the man in question was involved in orchestrating the crime.

Hilário Lole said that SERNIC had used the vehicle license plate stamping company where the one identified on the vehicle used in the crime was stamped in order to reach the kidnappers.

"There is no doubt that he was involved in the preparatory acts for the execution of the kidnapping in question on November 1st," he said.

In addition, he had access to the entry under which the license plate was registered, and after making inquiries, it was discovered that it was a false document. The same license plate was registered to another vehicle.

The stamping company provided SERNIC with bank details through which the payments for issuing the license plate were made.

"He confesses to having requested the recording of the registration plates, under the command of a third party," said Lole, noting that the 'mastermind' is already registered with SERNIC "as an individual involved in some cases of kidnapping in Mozambique and other territories".

According to the spokesperson, the citizen who has now been presented may be involved in other kidnapping cases in Maputo. "He has relations with an individual wanted in the country and considered to be one of the masterminds of the kidnappings, and is currently being held in neighboring South Africa."

Lole said that the next step is to validate the citizen's prison situation before an investigating judge.