Govt releases 29 more prisoners serving life sentences

The Department of Prisons has released 29 more inmates jailed for life after their sentences were suspended by the government.

In a statement on Sunday, the department said the release was granted to those who have served over 20 years of their sentences, including remission.

However, the identities of those released were not disclosed.

According to Rule 569 of the Jail Code, inmates sentenced to rigorous or life imprisonment either before or after Dec 7, 1990, may apply for clemency through the inspector general of prisons to the government two or three months prior to completing 14 or 20 years of their sentence, respectively.

Under the Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure, a life sentence is considered to span 30 years.

With these releases, the total number of inmates freed this year stands at 107, according to the Department of Prisons.