The officer's actions have sparked outrage and a manhunt as law enforcement scrambles to recapture the escaped detainees.
Zambian Officer's New Year Drunken Escape Leads to Mass Release of Detainees
Zambian Officer's New Year Drunken Escape Leads to Mass Release of Detainees
In an unprecedented incident in Lusaka, a police officer's inebriation led to the release of 13 suspects ahead of New Year's celebrations.
A bizarre New Year’s Eve event unfolded in Lusaka, Zambia, when a police officer, identified as Detective Inspector Titus Phiri, allegedly liberated 13 inmates from custody to allow them to ring in the new year freely. According to officials, the incident took place at the Leonard Cheelo police station where Phiri, reportedly drunk, forcibly took cell keys from a fellow constable, Serah Banda. He then unlocked both male and female cells, instructing the detainees that they were free to leave.
These 13 detainees, who faced charges ranging from robbery to assault, promptly absconded, prompting local authorities to initiate a manhunt to recapture them. The officer himself fled the scene after the incident, and he has yet to make a statement regarding his actions.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga described the scene, revealing that out of 15 individuals held in custody, only two remained after Phiri’s reckless decision. This curious event has drawn attention on social media, where former presidential spokesperson Dickson Jere humorously reflected on the situation. He compared it to a similar, controversial release that occurred in 1997 when a high court judge freed 53 suspects due to delayed justice.
With this latest episode, the Zambian public is left wondering how an officer could allow such a farcical situation to occur, while the police force’s integrity is now under scrutiny.
These 13 detainees, who faced charges ranging from robbery to assault, promptly absconded, prompting local authorities to initiate a manhunt to recapture them. The officer himself fled the scene after the incident, and he has yet to make a statement regarding his actions.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga described the scene, revealing that out of 15 individuals held in custody, only two remained after Phiri’s reckless decision. This curious event has drawn attention on social media, where former presidential spokesperson Dickson Jere humorously reflected on the situation. He compared it to a similar, controversial release that occurred in 1997 when a high court judge freed 53 suspects due to delayed justice.
With this latest episode, the Zambian public is left wondering how an officer could allow such a farcical situation to occur, while the police force’s integrity is now under scrutiny.
