Govt Grants Seclusion Day Remissions To 333 Prisoners

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Law and Human Rights Ministry granted remissions to  a total of 333 prisoners on the occasion of Seclusion Day on Friday.

"The remissions are granted to 333 prisoners consisting of 328 who have their sentences reduced and five who are set free," the head of the ministry's public relations division, Akbar Hadi, said.

The granting of remissions was based on presidential decree number 174/1999 on remissions and government regulation number 32/1999 on conditions and procedures of exercising prisoners' rights, he said.

"Under the provisions, the Seclusion Day remissions are given to Hindu prisoners who have been sentenced to more than six months in jail, have good behavior and have never violated discipline," he said.

The remissions were a form of the government's reward to prisoners for their effort to maintain good behavior while serving their jail terms. As such, they could return to their family and the community soon, he said.(IGT/t007)