Burundi leader pardons prisoners
2010-03-26 07:52
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Bujumbura - Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza on Thursday signed pardons to ease congestion in the country's overcrowded prisons, a day after inmates rioted in the main Bujumbura prison.
More than 11 000 prisoners are jailed in the country's 11 prisons that are meant for 4 050 inmates.
It was unclear how many prisoners would be freed but these would include inmates serving less than five years, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, the terminally ill, those over 60 years old and minors below 18 years, the president's spokesperson Leonidas Hatungimana said.
"The president also decided to commute life terms to 20 years and halve other prison terms," Hatungimana told reporters.
However, those convicted of genocide crimes, war crimes, crimes against humanity, rape, murder, cannibalism, poisoning, threatening state security and stealing public funds will not benefit from the pardon.
On Wednesday, prisoners in Bujumbura's Mpimba prison fought guards in an attempt to break free.
