SHARJAH // Twenty-eight prisoners jailed for financial crimes or with outstanding fines have been released after their debts were settled as part of this year’s GCC Inmates Week.
Maj Gen Hamid Mohammed Hudaidi, General Commander of Sharjah Police, said the inmates were freed after Dh1.76 million was donated to the campaign. Last year, the families of four inmates with the best behavioural record were flown to the UAE to visit their relatives.
“This year, we are hoping to bring six more families to the UAE from Egypt, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, India and Saudi Arabia. It greatly boosts the moral of the inmates,” said Col Ahmed Abdulaziz Shuhail, head of reform and rehabilitation department in Sharjah.
Officials from the correctional department visited families of inmates in their home country and after finding that their living conditions were poor raised donations to help.
“Last year, 27 inmates converted to Islam by their own will, this year so far we have over 40 new inmates that converted,” said the Col Shuhail.
Maj Gen Hudaidi said the correctional department is doing its best to support inmates and their families, providing them with more access to their loved ones and the opportunity to complete their studies before release.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
