Police officers patroling the streets in capital Male.
Over 80 convicts have been released under parole so far this year, disclosed Maldives Correctional Service on Wednesday.
According to Correctional Service’s Information Official, Ahmed Luqman, 190 inmates serving prison sentences have applied for parole, out of which 87 have been released following interviews with the Parole Board and other evaluations.
The number is a far cry from the 300 convicts estimated to be released this year by the former Minister of Home Affairs, Umar Naseer. However, Correctional Service said that several policies have been altered since Umar Naseer’s remark.
The Parole Board released only the inmates believed not to endanger the community after serving certain lengths of their sentences. The board also monitors the activities of the inmates, who are released only under strict conditions. Those that violate their parole are immediately taken back under custody and forced to complete the remainder of their sentences.
Correctional Service also takes into account the inmates’ behaviour and adherence to their scheduled programmes during prison before granting parole.
However, parole is not granted for child sex offenders and convicts serving sentences for major crimes such as murder.
Correctional Service added that they had released approximately the same number of inmates under parole the previous year as well.