President of Maldives, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom claims more than 400 inmates have been released from prisons during the week ended.
Speaking at the ceremony on Friday night to commemorate 4 years for the current government, President Abdulla Yameen said that youths had been disregarded and neglected for years but under his regime, allowing retribution for the inmates and bringing them back to society as decent citizens had been a priority.
President Yameen claimed that in order to release inmates who had resolved themselves, several arrangements were made prior to their release last week.
"Today, it is with great pleasure I am announcing that 429 inmates have been given a second opportunity at life and they have been released from prisons to pursue careers and gain an honest livelihood," said Abdulla Yameen.
A new set of regulations granting President to pardon inmates were implemented and gazetted last year. Under the act, criminals who had offenses excluding felony level crimes were considered for a second chance and assessed by a special committee designated from Home Ministry.
Apart from releasing more than 400 inmates from their cells, President Yameen had also confirmed that several criminal records of offenders had been expunged. A record amount of 15,752 individuals had their records expunged according to President Yameen in his speech on Friday.
President Yameen had justified the act was carried out in order to levy these offenders who had been charged for petty crimes, the opportunity to pursue careers as criminal records hinder the chances at jobs.
