By Peter Phiri:
Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda has told Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa that there are guidelines that ought to be followed for one to be pardoned from prison.
The AG’s remarks follow a letter by Nankhumwa to President Lazarus Chakwera that the president should pardon with immediate effect convicted teenager Mussa John and former MEC Commisioner Linda Kunje who is serving her jail term at Mikuyu Prison in Zomba.
In the letter, titled: ‘An Appeal to Pardon John Mussa and Commissioner Kunje’, Nankhumwa said some people who were previously convicted on similar offences like Kunje and Mussa or even worse were just fined by the courts without custodial sentences being imposed on them.
But in a direct response to the leader of opposition’s plea, the Attorney General has reminded Nankhumwa that there are guidelines that must be followed for one to qualify for a presidential pardon.
“The pardon procedure dictates that one must have served for atleast half of their custodial jail term as well as demonstrate good behaviour for them to be considered for pardon,” said the Attorney General.
Nyirenda further said that the president can not just succumb to external pressure to pardon inmates willy nily as that might bring chaos in the adminstration of justice in the country.
Kunje alongside her driver are serving a jail term after they refused to stop to give way to Chakwera’s motocarde while Mussa John is serving a custodial jail term for being found in possession of Indian Hemp.
