JEDDAH: The Council of Ministers on Monday authorized the interior minister to waive 15 percent of a convicted prisoner’s jail term in addition to previous concessions if he or she has completed an educational and vocational training program inside prison, has a good behavior record and does not pose a security threat on release.
The previous law allowed the minister to release prisoners once they complete three quarters of their punishment on condition that their conduct is good and the release does not pose a threat to public security.
Spelling out the conditions for release, the Cabinet said the behavior of prisoners looking for early release should exude confidence, and that they should have spent at least nine months in jail and paid all financial dues related to his or her crime.
“If it was proved that the prisoner’s behavior had become bad, then the interior minister will have the authority to send the prisoner back to jail to complete his full term,” said the Cabinet, which was chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. Social Affairs Minister Yousuf Al-Othaimeen thanked King Abdullah for passing the new law. He said the Cabinet decision would help improve the conduct and behavior of prisoners, rehabilitating them into society as upright citizens.
Al-Othaimeen urged prisoners to make use of the concessions given by the government, including a previous decision that allows them to halve their jail term if they memorize the Holy Qur’an completely.
The Council of Ministers congratulated King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan and Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif on the escape of Prince Muhammad bin Naif, assistant interior minister for security affairs, from a terrorist attack. The ministers praised the king for visiting Prince Muhammad at hospital soon after the attack, adding that it helped the public to get reassured about the prince’s safety and health. They commended the efforts of security forces in confronting Al-Qaeda militants.
The Cabinet reiterated that Saudi Arabia would continue its campaign against terrorists with the support of its security forces and people.
Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet adopted a number of other decisions. It decided to allow the workers recruited by the Islamic Development Bank for the implementation of its sacrificial meat utilization program to perform Haj on the basis of certain regulations. The Cabinet also approved the monetary union agreement of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which was endorsed by the GCC summit on Dec. 30, 2008. It also ratified an agreement with the United States for scientific and technological cooperation that was signed in Riyadh on Dec. 2, 2008 as well as a memorandum of understanding signed with Qatar on Dec. 16, 2008, SPA said.
The Cabinet appointed Talal bin Muhammad Abdussalam, Faisal bin Hamid Mualla, Samir bin Mahmoud Aqqad and Nasser bin Aid Al-Joaid as ministers plenipotentiary at the Foreign Ministry, and Othman bin Abdullah Al-Thabit, educational consultant at the Ministry of Higher Education.
