The National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) confirms that the five citizens arrested on Tuesday, inside and outside the CMondego building, on Av. para as Palmas, in the Costa do Sol district of Maputo city, intended to kidnap a Portuguese businessman. SERNIC obstructed their attempt.

O MZNews was at the scene of the incident and reported the first witness statements, except from SERNIC agents and CMondego officials.

SERNIC spokesman Hilário Lole, quoted by News this Saturday, said that the citizens, aged between 45 and 55, had tried to kidnap a Portuguese citizen.

In fact, SERNIC managed to obstruct the attempted kidnapping because the victim reported the kidnapping and death threats.

The thieves wanted to withdraw 500,000 meticais from a supposed debt with the thieves.

One of the detainees, identified as the godson of the Portuguese businessman - who was his best man at his wedding - said that he was in the company of his brother when he was captured. He denied that they were carrying a firearm and that it had been implanted in his car. He said that he had gone to his best man's company to collect a debt for the rehabilitation of part of his company.