KITWE: Inmate commits suicide while in police custody

An inmate who was detained at Zamtan police post in Kitwe has taken his life by hanging himself on a burglar bar using a pair of socks.

The suspect was taken to the police after he attempted to steal a goat from a farm within Zamtan compound, says Copperbelt Province Commanding Officer Peacewell Mweemba in a statement issued on Thursday.

Police said Philison Kahalu 32 committed suicide in the early hours of Tuesday while in police cells.

Mweemba explained that Kahalu was found dead by Frederick Mulenga, 27, a fellow inmate who went to the toilet.

He said shortly after Mulenga noticed that his colleague had died, he called the other two inmates who started calling for help from the police officers who were on duty.

“Kahalu in the company of other suspects went to a farm on January 27, 2023 around 23:00 hours where they attempted to steal a goat, however the farm manager heard some noise and when he went to check he found unknown people trying to slaughter a goat before stealing it.

The other suspected criminals ran away but Kahalu was apprehended and taken to the police. Around 04:30 hours the officers on duty heard the other three suspects in custody shouting that one of them has committed suicide,” Mweemba said.