By Capital Watch Media
A drunk Zambian police officer, Detective Inspector Titus Phiri freed 13 suspects from custody for them to celebrate the New Year, officials revealed.
Phiri was arrested after releasing the suspects from Leonard Cheelo police station in the capital, Lusaka, before running away himself, BBC reports.
The 13 detainees accused of crimes such as assault, robbery, and burglary are currently on the run and a manhunt has been launched to find them.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said that Phiri, “in a state of intoxication, forcibly seized cell keys” from Constable Serah Banda on New Year’s Eve.
“Subsequently, Detective Inspector Phiri unlocked both the male and female cells and instructed the suspects to leave, stating they were free to cross over into the New Year,” he said.
“Out of the 15 suspects in custody, 13 escaped. Following the incident, the officer fled the scene.”
