Prisoners listen as leniency measures are announced. - VT
VIENTIANE: The government has granted sentence reductions and releases to more than 1,000 prisoners around the country in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Lao National Day on Dec 2.
The Department of Detention and Rehabilitation under the Ministry of Public Security announced the leniency measures on Dec 19 at Tanpiew Prison in Vientiane province.
These are awarded under a Presidential decree to prisoners who have demonstrated good behaviourand commitment to rehabilitation.
The announcement was led by Deputy Minister of Public Security Lt. Gen. Khamking Phouilamanivong, who is also chairman of the Ministry’s Amnesty Committee, together with the Head of the Department of Detention and Rehabilitation, Brig. Gen. Latsamy Xayyakham, and attended by officials from the Supreme People’s Prosecutor Office, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Ministry of Justice.
Brig. Gen. Latsamy said the review and selection process began in March this year, involving inmates at eight major prisons and a temporary detention centre, including facilities in Phongsaly, Luang Prabang, Xiengkhouang, Vientiane, Savannakhet and Champasak provinces, and Phontong and Nakha in Vientiane.
A total of 1,097 prisoners, including 149 women, were given sentence reductions or released, of whom 48 were foreign nationals.
Sentence reductions have been granted to 1,019 prisoners, including 136 women and 47 foreigners, while 40 prisoners serving life sentences—among them three women and four foreign nationals—had their sentences commuted to fixed terms. The remaining 78 prisoners were granted immediate release.
At Tanpiew Prison, 255 inmates received sentence reductions, of whom 13 with life sentences had them reduced to fixed terms. Most cases involved drug-related crimes, accounting for 242 prisoners, while 13 were convicted of general criminal offences. Ten prisoners, including two women, were granted immediate release.
Deputy Head of the Department of Detention and Rehabilitation, Colonel Somxay Saengkhamyong, read the Presidential decree authorising the leniency measures and Brig. Gen. Latsamy then presented release certificates to eligible prisoners.
Lt. Gen. Khamking encouraged those who remain in custody to comply with prison regulations and work diligently towards rehabilitation, so they can improve their chances of sentence reductions or release in future years.
Addressing those who were freed, he stressed the importance of obeying the law, reintegrating into their families and communities, and contributing positively to society while avoiding any further involvement in criminal activity. - Vientiane Times/ANN
