JB pardons 279 prisoners

Malawi President Joyce Banda has pardoned 279 prisoners as part of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Ministry of Home Affairs issued the statement on Monday, saying those pardoned are prisoners who have served at least half of their prison sentences with good behaviour and were not convicted of serious offences.

The pardoning and release of 377 prisoners by the President during Independence Celebrations last July sparked controversy after it was established by the Weekend Nation a few months later that among those pardoned was the President’s relative who was serving an eight-year sentence for rape, enhanced by one year by the High Court due the gravity of the offence.

The President’s relative pardoned was Agala Festone Kuiwenga.