Saudi Arabia mulls ‘pardon-for-cash’ prison release scheme   

Authorities in Saudi Arabia are considering an initiative whereby prison inmates will be able to purchase part of their jail terms, according to a report on Saturday by Saudi newspaper Okaz.

The report follows a video that circulated on social media regarding the so-called “exemption” initiative will allow inmates or their relatives to buy half of the sentence in exchange for an estimated $4,780 (18,000 riyals) a year. The plan aims to reduce the number of incarcerated prisoners and will also apply to non-Arabic Muslim speaking inmates “who memorise the Quran”. The funds raised would be used to improve jail conditions.

🎥#فيديو | شراء نصف محكومية السجين تحت الدراسة والتدقيق#عاجل #عكاظhttps://t.co/gv2kApEj95 pic.twitter.com/nVWiKuZw5x

— عكاظ (@OKAZ_online) January 29, 2022

Responding to reports of the scheme, the General Directorate of Prisons said: “The initiative being circulated is one of the ideas that are still under study and scrutiny.”

While spokesman for the prisons administration, Colonel Bandar Al-Khurrami denied reports of the initiative, saying there were no plans yet.

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