The Zambian police said the officer released the suspects to celebrate the New Year

A drunken policeman in Zambia released 13 suspects from custody to celebrate the New Year, officials said.

Detective Titus Phiri was arrested after he released the suspects at the Leonard Cheelo police station in the capital, Lusaka, before they fled.

The 13 arrested were accused of crimes such as assault, robbery and burglary.

At present, they are all on the loose and a search operation has been launched.

Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said Mr Phiri, “being drunk, forcibly took the keys of the mobile phone” from Constable Serah Banda on New Year’s Eve.

“Investigator Phiri then opened the men’s and women’s cells and ordered the suspects to leave, saying they were free to enter the new year,” he said.

“Of the 15 suspects who were arrested, 13 escaped. After the incident, the police officer fled the scene.”

Mr Phiri has yet to comment on these allegations.

Reacting to the incident, former presidential spokesman and lawyer Dickson Jere wrote on Facebook: “I always laugh every time I see this situation – funny! However, I remembered a similar incident in 1997.”

On New Year’s Eve in 1997, the late, High Court Judge Kabazo Chanda ordered the release of 53 suspects, some of whom were considered dangerous by the police.

Mr. Chanda is angry that the suspects were arrested long ago in 1992 but they have not yet appeared in court.

“Justice delayed, justice denied,” he said.