Miles de feligreses celebraron este lunes el Día de los Reyes Magos en Bolivia con la costumbre religiosa de llevar las imágenes del Niño Jesús a los templos...
Actualizado
- 01/04/2009 02:00
Creado
- 01/04/2009 02:00
PANAMA. Despite ongoing criticism by civilians, the National Police seems to be taking matters into their hands and stepping up their r...
PANAMA. Despite ongoing criticism by civilians, the National Police seems to be taking matters into their hands and stepping up their response to the increasing rate of kidnappings in the country.
Only last weekend, they came to the rescue of two foreigners victimized by gangs in charge of kidnapping.
The police caught five men (and are still looking for two) who tried to kidnap two foreigners in different business areas in the city.
Both cases happened last Friday night. The first victim was a naturalized Panamanian of Colombian origin, who was kidnapped in Rio Abajo.
The businessman was rescued safe and sound last Sunday in a house located in La Florida de Villa Lorena, in Rio Abajo.
During the police operation, two houses were raided, and an AK-47, munitions, and a 9 millimeter gun were found.
The raids also discovered many of the props used during the kidnappings, such as tape, handcuffs, cell phones, car keys, two police uniforms, among other things.
The five detained men were charged by the assistant prosecutor, Luis Martinez for attempted kidnappings and conspiracy to commit a crime.
The second case was reported at. last Friday, when the 30-year-old Venezuelan businesswoman Marta Estela Bolivar Cantoral, was intercepted by three men who tried to kidnap her in front of the Holy Trinity Church in Betania.
One of the assailants pulled drew a gun, but the police appeared on the scene in time to prevent the men from taking the woman with them.
The kidnappers fled in a black SUV, and have not yet been caught.
Kidnapping cases in Panama have risen to alarming levels in the last few years, especially with the import of “express kidnappings” techniques from neighboring Colombia and Mexico.
In 2008, more than 40 kidnappings took place in Panama according to unofficial records, up from 27 were in 200.
Less than 20 were reported in 2006 and 2005.
On February 18, four kidnapping cases were reported on the same day, including that of a young girl.
Each of the cases included kidnappers asking for milliondollar ransoms.
Many believe the new wave of kidnappings responds to a rise of foreigners in the country, here both for business and/ or pleasure, who are expected to carry a lot of cash.
Lo Nuevo
