Royal pardons released 25,000 over year
Published: Sep 4, 2010 23:27 Updated: Sep 7, 2010 16:14
JEDDAH: About 25,000 convicts in jails across the Kingdom have benefited from royal pardons issued over the past year.
Three royal orders of pardon were issued since last Ramadan, which commenced on Sept. 22. While two of the orders were related to Ramadan, one pardon order marked the occasion of the healthy return of Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, to the Kingdom.
“All prisoners serving time on public rights will benefit from the pardon declared by the king,” Director General of Prisons Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Harithy said in a recent statement. “But prisoners convicted of security violations do not come under the pardon.”
Al-Harithy, however, said the pardon did not mean that their punishment would be totally dropped — exonerated convicts who return to prison will have the time reduced from their previous sentences added to their new punishments.
Twelve prisoners in Jeddah serving time on charges of private rights such as failure to pay back their loans have already been released during Ramadan. The money they owed was paid by a charity society.
In another development Director of Prisons in Makkah Brig. Atiyyah Al-Zahrani denied allegations that guards in Makkah jails collude with prisoners to smuggle illegal items into the lockups.
“Specially chosen guards are posted at gates of jails to check visitors,” he said. “The visitors also have to pass through more checkpoints inside the jail. There are also electronic devices to observe their activities. It is not possible to bypass all these checkpoints and bring in unlawful items to a jail.”
He added that inmates are supplied with the best food in jails.
“There are three committees that supervise the food supply in jails. There is a weekly and seasonal menu scheme. It follows the specifications made by the Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of Prisons,” he said.
The official also said inmates are treated with dignity and never subjected to torture or corporeal punishment. He said the prisoners were given lectures on moral and religious values and encouraged to learn the Holy Qur’an. They also are given opportunities to continue education, sit public exams and participate in sports and games activities.
He also said the jails have been expanded with new buildings and constructions to accommodate more prisoners and more recreational activities, he said.
Comments
KHALID Z.
Sep 5, 2010 21:14
Report abuse