Zambian police officer, Detective Inspector Titus Phiri, is in custody after freeing 13 detainees from police cells on New Year’s Eve to “celebrate the occasion,” officials have revealed.
The incident occurred at the Leonard Cheelo police station in the capital city of Lusaka. According to police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, Phiri, “in a state of intoxication, forcibly seized cell keys” from Constable Serah Banda before proceeding to unlock the male and female cells.
He then instructed the detainees to leave, claiming they were free to cross into the New Year.
The detainees, held on charges ranging from assault and robbery to burglary, seized the opportunity and fled the scene. Of the 15 suspects initially in custody, 13 managed to escape, prompting a police manhunt to recapture them.
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Phiri himself fled the station after his actions but was later apprehended. As of now, he has not commented on the allegations against him.
This unusual episode has sparked widespread reactions, with some finding humor in the surreal nature of the incident.
Former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Dickson Jere shared his thoughts on Facebook, writing, “I keep laughing each time I picture the scenario – comical! But then, I remembered a similar incident in 1997.”
Jere’s reference points to a precedent in Zambian history when the late High Court Judge Kabazo Chanda ordered the release of 53 detainees on New Year’s Eve in 1997.
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The suspects, some considered dangerous, had been detained without trial for years, with some arrests dating back to 1992. Judge Chanda’s decision, though controversial, highlighted issues of prolonged detention without trial.
As the police intensify efforts to recapture the escapees, the incident raises questions about protocol adherence and discipline within the force.