OUT HIS UNIFORM ARRESTED

Mozambican policeman who lent out his uniform in order to extort money from citizens has been arrested in the central province of Manica. The policeman, Miguel Naciala, joined the force in 1988 and currently holds the rank of sub-inspector.

He lent his uniform to a young member of the community police in Sussundenga district in order to commit crimes. Wearing this uniform, the community policeman claimed to be an officer in the national police force (PRM), and extorted money from people who were allegedly breaking the rules of the state of emergency. The head of public relations in the Manica Provincial Police Command, Mario Arnaca, told reporters in the provincial capital, Chimoio, on Tuesday that the community policeman went round Sussundenga communities demanding the use of face masks, and compliance with other measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

When he found individuals who were allegedly not complying with the emergency measures, he demanded money or goods from them. He threatened to throw them in jail, if they did not pay up.Arnaca said that both Naciala, and the community policemen (who was not named) are under arrest, and are facing both disciplinary and criminal proceedings. He did not say how much money this duo had succeeded in extorting from the citizens of Sussundenga.“As soon as we knew about this, from denunciations made by members of the public, we took measures which culminated in the detention of the young man”, said Arnaca. “He was claiming to be a police officer newly stationed in the region”.

“The police are attentive to any situation of opportunism, particularly in this emergency period”, declared Arnaca. “We urge the public to denounce any violations of the law”.