Africa-Press – Angola. Twenty-two citizens, who were imprisoned in the Cambiote prison, in Huambo, were released this Friday, in benefit of the Amnesty Law on the initiative of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço.
These are citizens who had been sentenced to sentences of between one year and eight years in prison for committing crimes of possession of weapons and ammunition, aggravated theft, minor trafficking, negligent homicide, robbery and aggravated theft.
In the same act, guided by the presiding judge of the judicial province of Huambo, Hélder Vicente da Silva, 13 citizens, also imprisoned in the Cambiote prison, benefited from the forgiveness of a quarter (1⁄4) of the sentence, for not meeting the requirements imposed by the Amnesty Law.
The beneficiaries were convicted of crimes of aggravated theft, breach of trust, minor trafficking, aggravated theft, trafficking and other substances.
On the occasion, the presiding judge of the judicial province of Huambo, Hélder Vicente da Silva, said that the Amnesty Law will give those covered a new life and a turn of the page, as such crimes will not appear in their records with the withdrawal including the criminal record.
For this reason, he advised, they should, above all, “grab it with both hands” and commit themselves not to commit any type of criminal offense again, and should join their families and society in general, for the restart of life.
“The experience they had of having lost part of their freedom, as a fundamental right, without being able to move freely, should serve as a reflection at the time of release, where each one must say that he will never return to cells or dungeons”, emphasized the magistrate.
Hélder Vicente da Silva explained that compliance with the Amnesty Law, in addition to being mandatory, is continuous and requires the Court and the Attorney General’s Office to work daily in the different cases they are assigned, with the verification of all legal requirements of the offender, so that he can benefit from it, after inspecting all the acts and without prejudice.
According to the magistrate, the Court of Huambo proposed to comply within a reasonable time, so that all citizens covered by the Amnesty Law are effectively set free.
The presiding judge said it was a free process and warned the inmates and their families to be aware of false promises, that they can only benefit from release by Amnesty, against payments.
“If it happens, please denounce all involvement in these practices, as it is very important that you bear in mind that some crimes, mainly property crimes, have some exceptions at the level of the law, such as repairing the damage”, he added.
Amnesty members praise PR gesture
Victorino Dumbo, one of the amnesty recipients, praised the gesture of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, in promoting the restitution of the freedom of several citizens, so that they can be reintegrated into society and, also, can help to boost the socio-economic growth of the country.
António Abreu Panzo, another citizen who escaped from jail, considered President João Lourenço a statesman concerned with the well-being of all citizens, regardless of the situation they are in, with a view to everyone contributing to the common well-being .
They committed themselves to permanently abandon the world of crime and lead an honest and responsible life, inside and outside the communities.
The Amnesty Law, approved on December 15, 2022 by the National Assembly, forgives all common crimes with prison sentences of up to eight years, committed by national or foreign citizens in the period, between November 12, 2015 and November 11, 2022 .
Military crimes punishable with prison sentences of up to eight years will also be amnestied, except for intentional crimes committed with violence that resulted in death.
The agents of crimes not covered by the Law in question and who have been convicted by a final and unappealable decision have their sentences pardoned in 1⁄4.
The Law excludes, among others, intentional crimes committed with violence, money laundering, corruption and embezzlement, trafficking in people and arms and aiding illegal immigration.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
