A drunken police officer in Zambia freed 13 suspects from custody in order that they may move and have a good time the brand new 12 months, officers say.Detective inspector Titus Phiri used to be arrested after freeing the suspects from Leonard Cheelo police station within the capital, Lusaka, earlier than working away himself.The 13 detainees had been accused of crimes equivalent to attack, theft and housebreaking.They’re all recently at the run and a manhunt has been introduced to seek out them.Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga mentioned that Mr Phiri, “in a state of intoxication, forcibly seized mobile keys” from constable Serah Banda on New 12 months’s Eve.”Due to this fact, detective inspector Phiri unlocked each the female and male cells and steered the suspects to depart, mentioning they had been unfastened to move over into the brand new 12 months,” he mentioned.”Out of the 15 suspects in custody, 13 escaped. Following the incident, the officer fled the scene.”Mr Phiri has now not but commented at the allegations.Reacting to the incident, former presidential spokesperson and legal professional Dickson Jere wrote on Fb: “I stay giggling every time I image the situation – comical! However then, I remembered a equivalent incident in 1997.”On New 12 months’s Eve in 1997, the past due, arguable Prime Courtroom Pass judgement on Kabazo Chanda ordered the discharge of 53 suspects, a few of whom had been deemed bad through the police.Mr Chanda used to be pissed off that the suspects were arrested as way back as 1992, however had now not but gave the impression in court docket. “Justice not on time, is justice denied,” he mentioned.
