Drunk Zambian Policeman Celebrates New Year By Freeing 13 Suspects
A drunken police officer in Zambia celebrated the new year by freeing 13 suspects from custody so that they could go and join the celebration, officials say.
Identified as Detective inspector Titus Phiri, he was arrested after releasing the suspects from Leonard Cheelo police station in the capital, Lusaka, before running away himself.
The 13 detainees were arrested over crimes ranging from assault, robbery and burglary, and are all currently on the run, even as a manhunt has been launched to find them.
IAs per the BBC, Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said that Mr Phiri, “in a state of intoxication, forcibly seized cell keys” from constable Serah Banda on New Year’s Eve.
“Subsequently, detective inspector Phiri unlocked both the male and female cells and instructed the suspects to leave, stating they were free to cross over into the new year,” he said.
“Out of the 15 suspects in custody, 13 escaped. Following the incident, the officer fled the scene.”
A similar incident happened in the country in 1997 High Court Judge Kabazo Chanda ordered the release of 53 suspects, some of whom were deemed dangerous by the police.
Mr Chanda was annoyed that the suspects had been arrested as long ago as 1992, but had not yet appeared in court.
Phiri has since been arrested but is yet to comment on the allegations.
