ANOTHER 23 inmates have been granted release from jail, after being found eligible for non-custodial sentences.
They have already served more than half their prison terms, said Execution Prosecution head Hamad Al Gallaf in a statement yesterday.
He said the decision was based on provisions in the Alternative Punishment Law, which was implemented last year.
“The Public Prosecution has reviewed the status of the female inmates in light of the Alternative Punishment Law regulations and conditions to determine their applicability to them,” he said in the statement.
“The reports were presented to the Execution Judge, who ruled in favour of 23 convicted inmates who served half their jail terms.
“They will join the alternative punishment scheme.
“Alternative penalties imposed by the law are in fact criminal penalties of a mandatory nature.
“Switching the punishment is based on considerations relating to the personal circumstances of the accused and the absence of criminal danger.
“The Public Prosecution is always viewing the inmates applicable for the alternative punishment law, whether they are men or women.”
He added that inmates eligible for release under the non-custodial sentence scheme were required to have served half their jail term and display good behaviour in prison.
They will return to jail if they breach the terms and conditions of their new sentence.
Last Thursday, the GDN reported on 23 prisoners being granted release from jail as they were found eligible for non-custodial sentences.
The law on alternative punishments will benefit 436 convicts – of whom 167 have served all their jail terms, Public Prosecutor Dr Ali bin Fadhl Al Bouainain previously said.
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