Armed thieves broke into the offices of the Alfa Seguranca private security company in Pemba, capital of the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado on Sunday, stealing at least eight million meticais (about 320,000 US dollars), reports Tuesday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias".
The money, that had been transferred from Nampula to a branch of the Standard Bank in Pemba had been entrusted to Alfa Seguranca.
The security company received the money on Sunday, and kept it in a safe in its offices, intending to deliver it to the bank the following day.
However, at about 22:30 on Sunday evening, three uniformed men, armed with a pistol and AK-47 assault rifles, beat up Aviao Boene, the Alfa security guard on duty, and stole the money. The victim is still under medical care in Pemba hospital.
A police spokesperson confirmed the robbery to reporters, but declined to reveal any further details. "We are very advanced in the investigations, but it is not good for us to give any further details', she claimed.
Other police sources revealed that at least four employees of Alpha Seguranca have been arrested in connection with the case.
For his part, the Standard Bank manager, Mario Gaspar, also confirmed the case, but could not tell reporters the exact amount that was stolen.
SOURCE: AIM
