This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2w51gjxpro
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Drunken officer freed suspects to celebrate New Year, Zambian police say | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A drunken police officer in Zambia freed 13 suspects from custody so that they could go and celebrate the new year, officials say. | A drunken police officer in Zambia freed 13 suspects from custody so that they could go and celebrate the new year, officials say. |
| Detective inspector Titus Phiri was arrested after releasing the suspects from Leonard Cheelo police station in the capital, Lusaka, before running away himself. | Detective inspector Titus Phiri was arrested after releasing the suspects from Leonard Cheelo police station in the capital, Lusaka, before running away himself. |
| The 13 detainees were accused of crimes such as assault, robbery and burglary. | The 13 detainees were accused of crimes such as assault, robbery and burglary. |
| They are all currently on the run and a manhunt has been launched to find them. | They are all currently on the run and a manhunt has been launched to find them. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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." | "Out of the 15 suspects in custody, 13 escaped. Following the incident, the officer fled the scene." |
| Mr Phiri has not yet commented on the allegations. | Mr Phiri has not yet commented on the allegations. |
| Reacting to the incident, former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Dickson Jere wrote on Facebook: "I keep laughing each time I picture the scenario - comical! But then, I remembered a similar incident in 1997." | Reacting to the incident, former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Dickson Jere wrote on Facebook: "I keep laughing each time I picture the scenario - comical! But then, I remembered a similar incident in 1997." |
| On New Year's Eve in 1997, the late, controversial High Court Judge Kabazo Chanda ordered the release of 53 suspects, some of whom were deemed dangerous by the police. | On New Year's Eve in 1997, the late, controversial High Court Judge Kabazo Chanda ordered the release of 53 suspects, some of whom were deemed dangerous by the police. |
| Mr Chanda was annoyed that the suspects had been arrested as long ago as 1992, but had not yet appeared in court. | Mr Chanda was annoyed that the suspects had been arrested as long ago as 1992, but had not yet appeared in court. |
| "Justice delayed, is justice denied," he said. | "Justice delayed, is justice denied," he said. |
| More Zambia stories from the BBC: | More Zambia stories from the BBC: |
| Zambia made education free, now classrooms are crammed | Zambia made education free, now classrooms are crammed |
| Grandma with chunky sunglasses becomes unlikely fashion icon | Grandma with chunky sunglasses becomes unlikely fashion icon |
| 'My son is a drug addict, please help' - the actor breaking a Zambian taboo | 'My son is a drug addict, please help' - the actor breaking a Zambian taboo |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external |