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| Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga |
Lusaka, Zambia – A Zambian police officer has been arrested after freeing 13 suspects from custody on New Year's Eve to allow them to celebrate the occasion, officials have confirmed.
Detective Inspector Titus Phiri, in an intoxicated state, forcibly obtained cell keys from constable Serah Banda at the Leonard Cheelo police station in Lusaka. He then unlocked the male and female cells, releasing detainees accused of crimes including assault, robbery, and burglary.
According to police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, Phiri told the suspects they were "free to cross over into the new year" before fleeing the scene himself. Out of 15 suspects in custody, 13 escaped, and a manhunt is now underway to recapture them.
The names of the suspects who escaped are as follows:
1.Kennedy Musonda – Assault OABH (GBV)
2.Caredi Mumeka – Affray
3.Memory Tembo – Affray
4.Agness Mwaba – Assault OABH
5.Maclean Shanaube – Assault OABH, Burglary, and Theft
6.Lastone Ngosa – Assault OABH
7.Fletcher Nkosani – Conduct likely to cause a breach of peace
8.Enock Banda – Obtaining goods by false pretenses
9.Memory Mpukuta – Theft
10.Jane Banda – Theft
11.Simon Phiri – Possession of psychological substances
12.David Sibalwi
13.Kelvin Mwape
Former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Dickson Jere reacted to the incident on social media, calling it both “comical” and reminiscent of a 1997 New Year's Eve case. In that instance, late High Court Judge Kabazo Chanda controversially ordered the release of 53 long-detained suspects, citing the principle, “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
The escape of the 13 detainees has raised questions about security measures at the police station and the responsibility of law enforcement officers. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.