Mozambique jails woman for ransom kidnap of children
The implementation of the highest penalty, according to Judge Martinho Mucheguere, was done to deter the recent spate of kidnapping in Beira.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
A lady was given a 30-year prison term by a Mozambican court for the central city of Beira kidnapping of two youngsters for ransom.
The 37-year-old lady must also provide the relatives of the children compensation for $3,100 (£2,580).
According to testimony given in court, the woman kidnapped a 14-year-old boy in October of last year and demanded a $313 ransom.
She is alleged to have abducted a second 4-year-old in December and held him for $390.
The implementation of the highest penalty, according to Judge Martinho Mucheguere, was done to deter the recent spate of kidnapping in Beira.
We are accustomed to kidnappings involving significant ransom payments.
But this case has a unique twist because we are already dealing with kidnappings that happen in neighborhoods and involve just tiny sums of money paid via M-Pesa, the judge said.
"The only tool we have to deter this kind of circumstance is to use what the law provides—these maximum punishments," he continued.
