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A police officer accused of unlawfully releasing detainees to “cross over into the New Year” will stand trial on April 23, 2025, before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court.
Detective Inspector Titus Phiri, 51, of Kabangwe and an officer at Leonard Cheelo Police Post, pleaded not guilty to abuse of authority charges when he appeared before Magistrate Amy Masoja.
According to the Zambia Police Service, the incident occurred on December 31, 2024, around 10:00 hours, when Phiri, allegedly intoxicated, took cell keys from Constable Serah Banda and unlocked the cells.
He is accused of arbitrarily releasing at least eight detainees, including Kelvin Mwape, Kennedy Musonda, Jane Fletcher Nkhonsani, Laston Ngosa, Agness Mwaba, Maclean Shamaubi, Calledi Mumeka, and David Sibalwa.
Eyewitnesses claim Phiri cheerfully instructed the suspects to leave, reportedly telling them they were “free to cross over into the New Year.”
The escape was discovered around 14:30 hours when Chief Inspector Maiya, the Officer-in-Charge at Leonard Cheelo Police Post, reported the incident.
By then, 13 out of 15 detainees had disappeared, and Phiri himself had allegedly fled the scene.
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