Some 900 Prisoners Apply For Royal Pardon On National Independence Day And Water Festival

Phnom Penh, November 06, 2023 --

A total of 902 prisoners have applied for jail term reduction and elimination during the National Independence Day and Water Festival this month, according to H.E. Kim Santepheap, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry of Justice on Nov. 7 will hold a meeting to review the request and assess the prisoners qualified for jail term reduction and elimination, he added.

Of the prisoners, he pointed out, 464 have applied for jail term reduction and elimination on the National Independence Day to be held on Nov. 9, while 438 others during the Water Festival to fall from Nov. 26 to 28.

The prisoners entitled for the evaluations are those who are aging, disabled, having chronic disease, and charged with minor crimes.

In addition, they must have served at least two thirds of their sentence for prisoners seeking term elimination, and one third for those requesting for term reduction.

It is a usual practice in Cambodia that the government allows the consideration of inmates with special condition and good performance to be granted royal pardon or jail term reduction during major traditional celebrations, like January 7 Victory Day, Khmer New Year, Visak Bochea, National Independence Day and Water Festival.