31 March 2008
Maputo — Two Maputo policemen have been arrested for shooting a young man dead by mistake on the night of 22 March.
The spokesperson for the Maputo City Police Command, Arnaldo Chefo, told reporters on Monday that the two policemen, Neves Tinga and Filipe Alberto, opened fire in an attempt to stop a vehicle in the outlying Maputo suburb of Jorge Dimitrov.
But they chose to start shooting near a large informal market. They failed to stop the vehicle, but one of their bullets hit and killed a passer-by, 25 year old Cremildo Joao, who was crossing the road.
"They should have thought about the impact shots would have in that area where so many people were still moving around", said Chefo. "Even if they did have to open fire, they should have known how to do so in a way that did not endanger anybody's life".
"Even if it was a case of a criminal trying to escape, the police should not have fired shots near the market", he added. In such a case, said Chefo, it would be preferable to let the criminal escape, in the hope that the police would catch up with him somewhere else.
The two policemen claimed the men they were chasing were "of doubtful conduct", and were inside "a suspicious vehicle", that might have contained firearms.
They are now under detention in cells in the Maputo City Police Command.
Mm/pf (245)
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