POLICE in Lusaka have arrested a 29-year-old man who is one of the suspects in a matter where a police officer was seen in a viral video being roughed up by criminals who were clad in political regalia.

In a statement, Thursday, Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo said the said man was arrested after a report of aggravated robbery and abduction was reported at Matero Police by a man identified as Mbwanga Moonga.

Katongo said Moonga reported that the suspected cadres pounced on him, bundled him in the boot of his motor vehicle and drove off to Mutumbi Cemetery where they robbed him of his K10,000 and threatened to kill him if he did not give them more money.

“Police in Lusaka have arrested one suspect aged 29 (identity withheld) in the matter where a police officer was seen being roughed up by criminals clad in political regalia in a video that went viral. The suspect was arrested after a report of aggravated robbery and abduction was reported at Matero Police by Mbwanga Moonga who reported that the suspected cadres pounced on him in Chunga Compound near Nelson Mandela School, grabbed his keys of his Allion motor vehicle and bundled him in the boot of the motor vehicle and drove off to Mutumbi Cemetery where they robbed him of his K10,000 and threatened to kill him if he did not give them more money,” read the statement.

“They are alleged to have later driven him to Ngombe Compound at an Airtel booth where they ordered him to withdraw money. However, the mobile money agent at the booth did not have the cash and that was when they began beating him. This attracted the attention of the lone police officer who tried to intervene but was overpowered and was locked in a nearby restaurant. The criminals are alleged to have driven their captive to Matero Township where they forced him to transfer K5,000 to their mobile money which he did and they let go of him.”

Katongo said the police have since launched a manhunt for the rest of the criminals.

“After sharing the K15,000 amongst themselves, the suspects are alleged to have gone on a drinking spree in Ngwerere where they are reported to have assaulted another member of the public and one of them was arrested by Ngwerere Police. The suspect was later identified to be one of the criminals in the circulating video in which an officer was harassed and a K2,000 was recovered from him. A manhunt for the other criminals involved has been launched. A docket of assault on police has been opened and investigations have continued,” stated Katongo.