KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 18
President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has granted amnesty to 513 convicts doing time in prisons across the country to mark the National Democracy Day.
A press statement issued by the Office of the President stated that the amnesty would be effective beginning tomorrow.
The eligible jailbirds getting amnesty include Furwa Sherpa and Aungnima Sherpa in accordance with the Senior Citizens Act, 2006; the Criminal Code Act, 2017, the Criminal Offences (Punishment Determination and Implementation) Act, 2017; the Children's Act, 2018; the National Criminal Procedure (Code) Act, 2017 and the Supreme Court mandamus order of 3 August 2020, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.
The convicts were also relieved of fine and principal amount to be paid to the state for the crimes they committed, in addition to the jail sentence handed down to them by various courts. Nepal has a tradition of granting amnesty to eligible prisoners to mark major festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Republic Day, National Democracy Day and Constitution Day.
The government may recommend to the president to waive off the remaining 60 per cent jail term of the prisoners, who have been convicted of smalltime crimes and have already served at least 40 per cent of the sentencing, provided that they have demonstrated a good conduct in prisons. Similarly, up to 75 per cent the remaining term of jailbirds, who are above 65 years, and have demonstrated good conduct, may be commuted.
However, those convicted of heinous crimes, including kidnapping and hostage-taking, rape, child molestation, human trafficking, murder, jailbreak, money laundering, offence against state, war crime, corruption and smuggling of drugs and wildlife body parts are not entitled to presidential amnesty in accordance with the existing laws.
Recently, the Department of Prison Management had forwarded a list of convicts deemed eligible for amnesty to the Ministry of Home Affairs, on the recommendation of the concerned jailers. Upon receiving the list, the MoHA had forwarded it to the Cabinet before seeking presidential approval.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 19, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
