Over 2 000 inmates to be freed

Following a presidential pardon and reprieve proclamation by President Nangolo Mbumba, over 2 000 inmates will be set free. In a statement, Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) Commissioner-General Raphael Hamunyela announced that 313 inmates in correctional facilities will be pardoned, while 1 108 will be released on reprieve. According to the Office of the Judiciary, a pardon sees an inmate being forgiven for a crime, “thereby removing any remaining penalties or punishments associated with that crime”. Meanwhile, a reprieve is a temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence. “It does not nullify the conviction or the sentence, but merely postpones its implementation.”A total of 709 inmates on community supervision will be pardoned, while 98 will be sent home on reprieve. Who is eligible?The proclamation stipulated a number of categories of inmates who were eligible for release. This includes those who have served at least two-thirds of their sentences and whose conditional release had been approved by 21 March.Other inmates who qualified for release are those serving sentences of 12 months or less, who - on or before 21 March - had served at least half of their time in prison. Those serving sentences of 12 months or less who had not served half their sentence by Independence Day will only be eligible for pardon on the date they complete half their sentence."Those 60 years or older who, on or before 21 March, have served at least half of their sentences and maintained meritorious conduct and discipline in correctional facilities and who, once released, are unlikely to pose any risk to society” were also eligible under this proclamation, the NCS statement read.It also includes inmates 60 and older who have been on their best behaviour but have not yet served half of their sentence - their pardon becomes effective only on the date that they complete half of their sentence. Furthermore, inmates who had been medically declared permanently bedridden as well as those under the age of 18 who had served at least half of their sentences, maintained meritorious conduct and discipline and, once released, are unlikely to pose any risk to society could also soon taste freedom.Similarly, those under 18 who have been on their best behaviour but have not served half of their sentence will only be eligible for release on the day they reach the ‘halfway mark’.jemima@namibiansun.com

Over 2 000 inmates to be freed

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-14

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Over 2 000 inmates to be freed

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-14

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