SIBU: Eighteen inmates from Sibu Prison were granted early release coinciding with the Hari Raya season through the Licensed Release of Prisoners (PBSL) programme, the Sarawak Public Communications Unit reported.
The initiative, aimed at reintegrating individuals back into society, was detailed by Sibu Prison Director Hamad Seman.
The released individuals will remain under parole supervision, adhering to strict regulations until their original sentence completion dates. Hamad expressed hope that this early release serves as a turning point, encouraging the former inmates to refrain from past misdemeanours. He extended gratitude towards the families and employers who collaborated with the prison department to ensure the programme's success.
Hamad highlighted that re-incarceration could occur if parole terms are breached, with penalties corresponding to the nature of the violation. Eligibility for PBSL demands a record free of serious crimes, with candidates typically involved in minor offences, clear of ongoing appeals, and having surpassed the first phase of the Human Development programme.
Excluded from PBSL are foreign nationals, individuals convicted of severe drug-related offences, and crimes under stringent acts like ATIPSOM, involving murder, firearms, and related severe offences.
The initiative saw eight inmates, sentenced to less than a year, and ten others, who served one to three years, regaining their freedom. The year 2023 witnessed 202 inmates benefiting from PBSL, with 43 from Sibu Prison released till April 2024.
