Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) have arrested a young man who allegedly used a police badge to threaten citizens and extort illegal charges on public roads.
According to the police, the 24-year-old was caught red-handed masquerading as a plainclothes PRM agent in possession of a professional police card and a pair of handcuffs.
His victims allegedly included customers at the market stalls in Inhagoia A.
At the station, the impostor said that some articles retrieved by the police belonged to a man who pawned them to pay off a debt at the stall, after which an alleged acquaintance departed, but without taking them with him.
However, the detainee denies the suspicions surrounding him, stating that he is just a cell-phone repairman.
“No one will say that! Everyone in the market knows me. That ‘uncle’ gave me this to pick up, because I was pawning this here because I got his phone number. He should pay me 900 meticais and pick it up here,” the man explained.
But City Command police spokesperson Marta Pereira said that the man in custody used false credentials to take advantage, and is not a policeman.
“It is presumed that he was part of a gang that robbed and extorted citizens on public roads, claiming to be a member of the PRM,” she said.
The police say they are in pursuit of other suspects connected to the case.
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