Drunk Policeman Frees 13 Detainees to Celebrate New Year in Zambia
A Zambian police officer, Detective Inspector Titus Phiri, is facing legal action after he drunkenly released 13 suspects from custody to allow them to celebrate the New Year. The incident occurred at Leonard Cheelo Police Station in Lusaka, where Phiri, in a state of intoxication, forcibly took the keys to the cells from Constable Serah Banda on New Year’s Eve.
Phiri then proceeded to unlock both male and female cells and told the detainees, who were accused of crimes including assault, robbery, and burglary, that they were free to go and “cross over into the New Year.” Out of the 15 detainees in custody, 13 escaped. Phiri, having carried out the release, fled the scene himself, and efforts to locate him are ongoing.
Zambian police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga confirmed the incident, and a manhunt has been launched to capture the escaped detainees, who are now on the run. Phiri has not yet provided a comment on the allegations.
The case has drawn public attention, with former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Dickson Jere humorously noting on Facebook that while the incident seemed comical, it reminded him of a similar event in 1997. On that occasion, the late High Court Judge Kabazo Chanda had released 53 suspects, some considered dangerous, after expressing frustration over their prolonged detention without trial.
As authorities continue their search for both Phiri and the escaped detainees, the bizarre New Year’s Eve event highlights concerns over the conduct of law enforcement in Zambia.
