Mozambican former top cop jailed for murder

Friday, June 12, 2009 at 5:29 AM Posted by Beijing News


A Mozambican court sentenced a former national police top cop to 22 years in jail for killing a suspect, in a case that drew the attention of Amnesty International, state media reported on Friday.

Alexandre Balate, the former head of the search and seizure unit was found guilty of the 2007 murder of Abranches Penicelo, who was allegedly abducted by a group of police officers, burnt alive and shot, the Noticias newspaper reported.

"It's been proven that the defendant had the unequivocal purpose of causing the victim's death," said judge Pascoal Jussa in reading the verdict.

Balate also ordered to pay 500,000 meticals 19,000 dollars to Penicelo's family. His lawyer said he was appealing the sentence.

According to the paper, the judge called for the prosecution of the seven other police officers accused of being involved in Penicelo's death.

Amnesty International had drawn global attention to Penicelo's murder, launching a letter-writing campaign demanding that Mozambique's attorney general prosecute those responsible.

Last year the group released a report accusing the national police of "killing and torturing people with near total impunity."

Extrajudicial killings and excessive use of force by Mozambican police have come under fire from human rights groups.







Dugong 'Wuru' eats from a special lettuce birthday cake during the Sydney Aquarium's 21st birthday celebration. AFP/Greg Wood

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