NUSAJAYA - Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has pardoned eight prisoners and they will be released during the first day of Ramadan.
This included a drug trafficker on death row for 24 years. Four others on death row had their punishments commuted to life in prison.
Though their crimes were committed in Johor, they are serving their sentences in prisons throughout the country.
Johor state secretary Datuk Obet Tawil said the Johor Pardons Board, chaired by the sultan, had sought the opinion and advice of Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, who was also part of the seven-member board, before granting clemency.
"The consideration was made on all aspects such as the prisoners' offence, duration of sentencing which they had fulfilled, and progress of their rehabilitation," he said at the state administrative offices in Kota Iskandar here.
Obet said he hoped the pardoned prisoners would use their second chance to contribute to their family, community and country.
Source: AsiaOne, July 20, 2012
