Zambian officer celebrates New Year by releasing 13 suspects while drunk

VANGUARD

A drunken police officer in Zambia celebrated the new year by freeing 13 suspects from custody so that they could go and join the celebration, officials say.

Identified as Detective inspector Titus Phiri, he was arrested after releasing the suspects from Leonard Cheelo police station in the capital, Lusaka, before running away himself.

The 13 detainees were arrested over crimes ranging from assault, robbery and burglary, and are all currently on the run, even as a manhunt has been launched to find them.

As per the BBC, Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said that Mr Phiri, “in a state of intoxication, forcibly seized cell keys” from constable Serah Banda on New Year’s Eve.