A 74-year-old Italian engineer Giovanni C., employee of a construction company based in Rome, Bonifica Spa, was kidnapped in Haiti. According to what is learned, the kidnappers have already contacted the local office of the company: the aim of the kidnapping would be to obtain money for the ransom. It would be of a well-known local gang, called 400 Mawozo. The kidnapping would have taken place in Croix des Bouquets. Together with the Italian engineer, according to the Italian ambassador in Panama, there was also a technician, whose nationality is unknown, who may also have been kidnapped.
The Farnesina reports that the 74-year-old was engaged in surveys related to the construction of a road, which connects the departments of central and northern Haiti, when he was taken away by unknown individuals. The Crisis Unit has already been activated. In 2010 the earthquake that devastated Haiti, causing the death of at least 222 thousand people and the destruction of most of the infrastructures, some of which still remain to be rebuilt. The extreme poverty of the country worsened after the earthquake has contributed to the growth of the phenomenon of kidnappings for extortion purposes, 243 they were registered only in 2020. On 11 April, seven Catholic clerics were kidnapped: a million dollars had been asked for their release. Just i 400 Mawozo even in which case they were the perpetrators of the kidnapping, at the time their leader Lanmo San Jou had given a radio interview threatening strong actions if the ransom was not paid. At the end of April the religious, five priests and two nuns, had been released, it is not clear if after the payment of the requested amount. Kidnappers usually ask for figures ranging from $ 300,000 to $ 1 million.
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June 1, 2021 (change June 1, 2021 | 22:04)
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