Africa-Press – Angola. Twenty-six prisoners were released this Friday at the Nkiende jail, in the municipality of Mbanza Kongo, province of Zaire, under the Amnesty Law, decreed by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço.
The acting presiding judge of the Mbanza Kongo District Court, João António Sebastião, said that in the coming days more inmates will be released in that prison unit which is 32 kilometers from the city of Mbanza Kongo.
The release ceremony was chaired by the deputy governor for the political, social and economic sector, Afonso Nzolameso, who asked those affected to act, from now on, on positive behaviour.
He advised them to avoid practices and behavior likely to be considered criminal reoccurrences, encouraging them to dedicate themselves to academic and technical-professional training, in order to face life’s challenges with greater optimism.
“ It is worrying to know that most of the inmates in the Nkiende penitentiary are young. They are citizens who could be helping to develop the country”, lamented the official.
The deputy governor recalled that the Amnesty Law (Law 35/22 of December 23) exempts intentional crimes that have resulted in death, those committed using firearms, trafficking in human beings, drugs, rape and aid to illegal immigration.
He explained that the crimes mentioned above give the possibility of pardoning a quarter of the sentences, in the light of the aforementioned Amnesty Law, which has as one of the requirements the repair of damage caused to others.
Witnessing the act were the provincial director of Prison Services, prison chief superintendent Ezequiel Kalupeteca, court and public prosecutors.
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