A police officer has been arrested over ‘drunkenly’ releasing more than a dozen prisoners so they could celebrate the new year.
Detective Inspector Titus Phiri of the Zambia Police Service is accused of ‘forcibly seizing cell keys’ from a colleague on Tuesday.
The incident happened at about 10am while Phiri was ‘in a state of intoxication’.
He freed 15 detainees, both men and women, from Leonard Cheelo police station in the capital city of Lusaka, telling them they were ‘free to cross over into the New Year’.
Phiri then ran away from the scene.
Of the 15 detainees, 13 managed to escape and are still at large. A manhunt has been launched to bring them back into custody.
They were facing allegations of assault, robbery and burglary, among other crimes.
A spokesperson for the police service said: ‘The Zambia Police Service reiterates its commitment to upholding law and order and assures the public that decisive action will be taken against any officer found to be abusing their authority or acting contrary to the law.
‘A manhunt has been launched. The Zambia Police Service has intensified efforts to locate and apprehend the escapees.’
Phiri was arrested on Wednesday. He has not commented on the allegations, the BBC reports.
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