A drunk police officer in Zambia freed 13 suspects from custody so they could celebrate the new year, officials say.
Investigating detective Titus Phiri was arrested after he released the suspects from the Leonard Cheelo police station in the capital, Lusaka, before running away himself.
The 13 detainees were charged with crimes such as assault, robbery and burglary.
They are all running now and a manhunt has been launched to find them.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said Mr Phiri, “in an intoxicated state, forcefully grabbed cell keys” from constable Serah Banda on New Year's Eve.
“Consequently, detective inspector Phiri cleared the male and female cells and ordered the suspects to leave, saying they were free to enter the new year, ” he said.
“Out of the 15 suspects in custody, 13 escaped. After the incident, the officer fled the scene.”
Mr Phiri has yet to comment on the allegations.
Reacting to the incident, former presidential spokesman and lawyer Dickson Jere wrote on Facebook: “I laugh every time I take a picture of the situation – funny! 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 considered dangerous by the police.
Mr Chanda was angry that the suspects had been arrested as far back as 1992, but had yet to appear in court.
“Justice delayed, is justice denied,” he said.
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