Zambia police say drunk officer released suspects to celebrate New Year

A drunken police officer in Zambia freed 13 suspects from custody so they could go celebrate the New Year, authorities say.

Detective Inspector Titus Phiri was arrested before escaping himself after releasing the suspects from the Leonard Chilo police station in the capital, Lusaka.

The 13 detained were accused of crimes such as assault, robbery and theft.

All of them are currently on the run and an operation has been launched to search for them.

Police spokesman Rae Hamunga said Mr Phiri “while intoxicated, forcibly seized the cell keys from Constable Sera Banda” on New Year’s Eve.

“Subsequently, Detective Inspector Phiri opened both the male and female cells and directed the suspects to leave saying they were free to cross into the New Year,” he said.

“Of the 15 suspects in custody, 13 fled. After the incident, the officer fled the scene.”

Mr Phiri has not yet commented on the allegations.

Reacting to the incident, former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Dixon Jere wrote on Facebook: “I keep laughing whenever I imagine this scenario – ridiculous! But then, I remember a similar incident in 1997 “

On New Year’s Eve in 1997, the late, controversial High Court judge Cabazo Chanda ordered the release of 53 suspects, some of whom were considered dangerous by the police.

Mr Chanda was angry that the suspects had been arrested way back in 1992, but had not yet appeared in court.

“Justice delayed, justice not given,” he said.