A Zambian police officer who arrested AIDS activist Paul Kasonkomona in April revealed yesterday that he and his colleagues had made the arrest under orders and did not know what Kasonkomona had said on TV that led to the arrest. The officer believed that Kasonkomona had appealed for Zambia to allow gay marriages, but a review of the TV interview proved that to be false. Kasonkomona is on trial for allegedly “soliciting for immoral purposes in a public place” when he said local Muvi TV that Zambia should repeal its law against same-sex activity because the law hampers the fight against AIDS. Activists like Kasonkomona say that anti-gay laws lead to increased levels of HIV and AIDS by making LGBT people fearful of acknowledging their sexual orientation, even to a doctor. When cornered, the officer further stated that he had been acting on orders.