A Zambian police officer has freed 13 detainees from
custody on New Year’s Eve while drunk, declaring they should celebrate
the occasion, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
Detective Inspector Titus Phiri, stationed at Leonard
Cheelo Police Station in Lusaka, reportedly seized the keys from a
fellow officer, unlocked the cells, and instructed the suspects to
leave.
The detainees, facing charges such as robbery, burglary, and assault, remain at large.
“In a state of intoxication, Detective Inspector Phiri
forcibly took the keys and told the suspects they were free to cross
into the new year,” said police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga.
Phiri fled the scene after the incident but was later apprehended. A manhunt is underway to locate the escaped detainees.
The incident has sparked outrage and humour among the
public. Lawyer and former presidential spokesperson Dickson Jere
commented on social media.
“I keep laughing each time I picture the scenario – comical! But then I remembered a similar incident in 1997,” he wrote.
He said that on New Year’s Eve in 1997, the late,
controversial High Court Judge Kabazo Chanda ordered the release of 53
suspects, some of whom were deemed dangerous by the police, saying their
arrest had taken too long without any appearance in court.
Hamoonga assured the public that the police are investigating and that disciplinary measures will be taken.
“This behaviour is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of the Zambia Police Service,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment