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A drunken police officer in Zambia released 13 suspects from custody so they could go and celebrate the New Year, officials say.
Detective Inspector Titus Phiri was arrested after freeing the suspects from the Leonard Chilo police station in the capital Lusaka before he himself escaped.
The 13 detainees were charged with crimes such as assault, robbery and burglary.
All of them are currently absconding and a manhunt has been launched to trace them.
Police spokesman Rae Hamoonga said Mr Phiri, “in a state of intoxication, forcibly took the keys to his mobile phone” from police officer Serah Banda on New Year’s Eve.
“Detective Inspector Phiri subsequently unlocked the male and female cells and instructed the suspects to leave, saying they were free to go into the new year,” he said.
“Of the 15 suspects in custody, 13 escaped. After the incident, the policeman fled the scene.
Mr Phiri has yet to comment on the allegations.
In response to the incident, former presidential spokesman and lawyer Dixon Jere wrote on Facebook: “I keep laughing every time I imagine the scenario – comical! But then I remembered a similar incident in 1997.”
On New Year’s Eve 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 were arrested way back in 1992 but have yet to appear in court.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.
