FIVE suspects who were detained for various charges at Nchelenge police station have escaped from lawful custody.
Luapula Province Commissioner of Police Malcolm Mulenga said in an interview yesterday that the five suspects escaped from the cells between 19:30 hours and 23:30 hours on Tuesday night.
Mulenga said the suspects, aged between 25 and 35 years, are from within the district.
He said the suspects escaped by removing burglar bars from one of the windows of the cells in which they were being held.
“The total number of suspects in the cells was 12, but five out of that number escaped using the back window of the cells. They removed the burglar bars from the window and escaped,” Mulenga said.
“The whereabouts of the suspects are not yet known but we will ensure that they are brought to book to answer the charges.”
He named the suspects as Paul Mulenga, 27, and Bernard Chama, 25, both of Shishibeti village who are facing charges of housebreaking and theft, and Bernard Kalumba, 30, of Shinjoni village who is charged with malicious damage to property.
Others are Michael Mwila, 35, of Chandwe village who was detained for alleged use of vulgar language and James Mpundu, 32, of Kilwa Island in Chief Kambwali’s area who is facing an assault charge.
Mulenga said police officers who were on duty at the time of the escape discovered the absence of the suspects at 23:45 hours as they were exchanging shifts.
He said investigations have been launched into the matter.
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