Lubango – At least four citizens, two Angolans an equal number of Eritreans, have been arrested in central Huila by the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) for allegedly kidnapping an Eritrean businessman in December 2023, the SIC spokesman Segunda Quitumba said Thursday.
The four were arrested on May 24 for their alleged involvement in the crimes of kidnapping, computer and communications fraud, credit and debit theft and criminal association.
Segunda Quitumba said the abduction took place in December 2023, around on a public highway, when the victim was leaving his warehouse and trying to get into his car, being intercepted by two armed nationals.
He said that when they questioned the victim, they seized his car, forcing him into the back seat at gunpoint, and took him to the town of Luyovo.
The SIC spokesperson said that after they realized that there were CISP cameras, the abductors turned back and drove to the Quilemba neighbourhood, specifically to Block K, where they stole two mobile phones and ATM cards and 150,000 kwanzas from the victim and left him there with the car.
According to Segunda Quitumba, they then went to meet one of the foreigners who ordered the crime, who happened to be the victim's fellow countryman, and to whom they handed over the mobile phones.
The following day, the Angolans blackmailed the victim, asking for 2.5 million kwanzas, supposedly to reveal the names of the ringleaders and the victim did so, via an ATM transfer to the bank account of a third party, however they didn't fulfill their promise.
In possession of the victim's mobile phones, the investigations revealed, the Eritreans transferred amounts from the accounts totaling nine million kwanzas.
The Criminal Investigation Service will continue to give no respite to criminals, as all those who insist on the practice will face the ‘heavy hand’ of justice, the spokesperson said.
This is the first offence against Eritreans involving citizens of the same nationality that the Huila police have recorded. BP/MS/AMP
