Africa-Press – Eswatini. A total of 952 prisoners have been released from prison after they were pardoned by His Majesty King Mswati III.
The prisoners were released following a legal Notice No 254 -2023 titled ‘Prerogative of Mercy of the King Notice 2023 (under section 78 and 275)’ signed at Lozitha on September 5.
His Majesty, using powers vested in him in terms of section 78 read with section 275 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini Act, 2005, pardoned the prisoners, save for prisoners on capital punishment, prisoners who were convicted of terrorism related charges and high treason, prisoners who are third offenders or more and awaiting trial prisoners on the date of this notice, even if such prisoners are awarded a back date on conviction.
The release was initiated with immediate effect after making the notice.
According to the notice, His Majesty ordered that prisoners who, at the time of making the notice, had remaining sentences of 12 months or less, were first or second offenders, and had served two thirds of the initial sentences, shall be released from prison as soon as practicably possible after making the notice.
The notice stated that prisoners with 12 months or less, were a first or second offenders, and had served one third or less of the initial sentences, had their sentences reduced by 10 per cent only.
” Above 12 months and up to five years, is a first or second offender, had served two thirds of the initial sentence shall have such sentence reduced by 15 per cent only, as soon as practicably possible after making this notice.
“Above 12 months and up to five years, is a first or second offender, had served one third or less of the initial sentence shall have such sentence reduced by 10 per cent only, as soon as practicably possible after making this notice,” reads the notice in part.
The notice stated that prisoners above five years and up to 10 years, were first or second offenders and had served two thirds of the initial sentences, had their sentences also reduced by 10 per cent only.
Prisoners with above five years and up to 10 years, were first or second offenders, had served one third or less of the initial sentences were also lucky to have their sentences reduced by five per cent.
Adding, the notice highlighted that prisoners with 10 years and above, were first or second offenders, had served two thirds of the initial sentence, had their time in prison reduced by 10 per cent.
The notice went on to state that mentally challenged prisoners convicted or sentenced to King’s pleasure, have fully recovered and issued with a certificate of fitness by a medical practitioner, save for an awaiting-trial mentally challenged prisoner, were also released from prison.
“A prisoner, save for a prisoner on capital punishment, whose capital punishment was commuted to a custodial sentence, and order that such prisoner, at the time of making notice is a first or second offender, shall have such sentence reduced by five (5) years only, as soon as practicably possible after making this notice.
“A prisoner, convicted or sentenced to community service, and order that such prisoner at the time of making this notice, is a first or second offender and has served two thirds of the sentence, shall be released from prison as soon as possible after making this notice,” reads the notice in part.
Furthermore, His Majesty issued that prisoners convicted or sentenced to community service, and at the time of the notice, being first offenders and had served one third or less of the sentence, must have their remaining sentence reduced by 10 per cent only.
His Majesty’s Correctional Services Public Relations Officer (PRO) Senior Superintendent, Gugulethu Dlamini confirmed that a total of 952 prisoners were released from the correctional facilities across the country.
Dlamini said the release was with immediate effect following the issuance of the notice.
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