Do people actually read the thread before leaping in with their preconceived notions of the world?
JP1, they were not held hostage, a complaint of assault was filed against the two officers, with a corroborating witness statement. The police, even in this "developing third world sh!th@le", have a vague tendency to investigate alleged crimes and as such retained the passports of the two FAMs. In all probability the charge laid by this woman would not have held up, BUT that is for an examining magistrate to decide after reviewing the facts presented by the investigators.
It may come as a surprise to some, but the FBI and Federal Police have a very good working relationship, which I would assume carries over to other US agencies such as FAMs. Guess who would have investigated this case? That's right, the Federal Police, who were also just carrying out a duty that they have a legal right to do.
BTW FIGJAM_SEA, the "non-western legal system" in use here is actually based on the very "western" European legal system with some elements from the USA.
TTFN