A KABWE police officer has been arrested and remanded in custody for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman who was picked up to assist with investigations over theft of a mobile phone.

The officer, who has been detained at Kabwe Central Police, was arrested yesterday afternoon after a warn and caution statement was recorded from him

.Central Province police chief Standwell Lungu confirmed the arrest of the officer and that he would appear in court today. He refused to name the suspect.

But police sources identified the officer as a Milimo Mwendabai a constable by rank.

At the weekend, the woman in question was picked to assist with investigations because she constantly called a number of a phone believed to have been stolen.

Sources narrated that the officer was in the company of three other police officers who were investigating the theft of a blackberry phone.

The four officers from Kabwe Central Police Station in the company of the victim went to different townships in search of the suspect.

But late in evening, the officers diverted the woman to a lodge but three of them left.

She remained with one officer who allegedly forced himself on her and promised that he would release her.

The woman managed to run out of the room half-naked and approached the security guard at the lodge who refused to open for her.

She managed to jump over the boundary fence in her naked state and reported the matter to her parents who in turn went to the police station where a docket was opened.

Other police officers in the company of family members visited the scene and got a pair of trousers belonging to the victim, underwear and a wig which dropped as she struggled.

Sources said an identification parade was conducted and the officer was positively identified by the victim.