In an unusual New Year’s Eve incident, a Zambian police officer was arrested after releasing 13 suspects from custody while allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
Detective Inspector Titus Phiri reportedly seized the cell keys at Lusaka’s Leonard Cheelo Police Station and freed detainees facing charges for serious crimes, including assault, robbery, and burglary.
According to police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, Phiri forcibly took the keys from Constable Serah Banda before unlocking both the male and female detention cells.
The intoxicated officer allegedly told the suspects they were “free to cross over into the new year” before fleeing the station himself.
Of the 15 suspects in custody, 13 escaped. A manhunt is now underway to apprehend the fugitives, while Inspector Phiri has been taken into custody.
He has yet to respond to the allegations.
The incident sparked widespread reactions, including a comment from lawyer and former presidential spokesperson Dickson Jere.
Jere shared his amusement over the situation on Facebook, likening it to a controversial 1997 incident where a High Court judge released 53 detainees, citing delayed justice.
While this bizarre episode has raised eyebrows, it also highlights ongoing issues within the criminal justice system, where lapses in accountability can have far-reaching consequences.