Good behaviour led to the release yesterday of 45 inmates from Ajman federal prison on the order of Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid, Ruler of Ajman, according to WAM, the state news agency. Though no one at the prison or Ajman Police was available for comment, the release comes before Ramadan, a time of year during which prisoners at each federal prison have often been released for good conduct.
Three committees made up of members from all federal prisons devise a list every year of prisoners eligible for early release. The list is then given to the Attorney General for review, which is based on behaviour, the nature of the crimes and the length of sentence. The most recently released prisoners in Ajman whose sentences dictated a verdict of deportation will be flown out of the country immediately. The release order was effective immediately.
Sheikh Humaid hoped the rest of the prisoners would be able to reintegrate seamlessly into society. Last year 1,500 inmates at federal prisons in Abu Dhabi were released around the time of Ramadan; a further 700 were pardoned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and 777 were freed in Dubai, 133 in Sharjah, 81 in Ajman and 60 in Ras al Khaimah. jhume@thenational.ae