Lusaka - Zambia's chief prosecutor Mutembo Nchito was on Friday set free after a judge quashed the warrant for his arrest on charges involving abuse of office.
Nchito has often handled high profile cases, including the corruption trial of former president Rupiah Banda.
He was arrested on Thursday on a string of nine charges, among them two counts of abuse of authority of office, two counts of contempt of court, fraudulent contracting of debt and conspiracy to defeat justice.
"All purported proceedings in Chongwe are null and void and have no legal effect," said High court Judge Mwila Chitambo without further explanation.
His arrest came after a complaint filed in a lower court, in Chongwe, east of the capital Lusaka, by former finance deputy minister in late president Fredrick Chiluba's government, Newton Ng'uni, who accused him of undermining the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Ng'uni stated that Nchito should be prosecuted for offences he is alleged to have committed between 2008 and 2013.
Speaking to media after Nchito's release, Ng'uni vowed that he would seek legal interpretation of the court's decision.
"I have nothing personal against the director of public prosecution but against the wrongs that he has committed," Ng'uni told journalists.
"I have consulted my lawyers and we will be going back to court for further determination of this matter," he said.
AFP
