Africa-Press – Angola. Twenty-six prisoners from the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and the national police were set free today, in Bié province, under the amnesty law.
Of those arrested, 15 are from the FAA and 11 from the police.
José Antunes Pedro, military judge for the central region, recalled that Law no 35/2022, of December 23, the Amnesty Law, does not cover sexual crimes, trafficking in narcotics and more serious psychotropic substances, people, weapons, promoting and assisting illegal immigration.
The crimes of embezzlement, corruption, undue receipt of advantages and economic participation in business, abuse of power, influence peddling, money laundering, financing of terrorism and sale of weapons of mass destruction are also exempt.
The amnesty law was approved by the National Assembly, in Luanda, with 120 votes in favour, none against and 82 abstentions (all from the opposition).
The aforementioned law grants pardon for all common crimes punishable with sentences of up to eight years in prison, committed by national or foreign citizens, in the period from November 12, 2015 to December 1, 2022.
Hélio Alberto Ferreira, sentenced to one year in prison for disobeying military laws (illegal absence from the barracks), said he was sorry and promised to improve his social conduct, both in the military unit and in society.
Marcolino José Gomes, another prisoner for the crime of desertion, appealed to the other inmates for more courage and, above all, for good behavior.
Meanwhile, the second commander of the Preventive Prison Unit in Bié, Domingos Chipinhe, was concerned about the conditions in the prison, especially with the shortage of beds and the respective clothes, among other means.
At the moment, 26 other prisoners are incarcerated in the preventive prison unit in Bié.
The act was witnessed by senior FAA and MININT officials, court judges and guests.
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