By M.A. Egge
The President H.E. Musa Bihi Abdi have pardoned 554 prisoners on the occasion of Idd ul Fitr celebrations that marks the end of fasting of the perennial Holy Month of Ramadan.
This pardoning and release of petty criminals has been a tradition undertaken perpetually by the government as a show of compassion as stipulated in the Islamic traditions.
The order was contained in Presidential Decree Ref. No. JSL/XM/WM/222-1009/042023.
A press circular that reached our desk on 23rd April 2023 from the Presidency dated the same day asserted that those to be released were convicts of general misdemeanors and that the decree does not apply nor include to those arising civil cases and or capital punishments.
The statement noted that the president took the cue in executing the order following advisory by the attorney General and as forwarded by the General Prisons Command.
Attached was the list of the prisoners who were lucky to be pardoned.