Sharjah helps scores of inmates make new beginnings in life
AUTHORITIES ALSO HELP SETTLE DEBTS AND GIVE VOCATIONAL TRAINING
The Sharjah Punitive and Rehabilitation Establishment is taking a number of steps to improve the situation of inmates in correctional facilities in the emirate.
The department, in cooperation with its partners, has raised millions of dirhams to compensate victims of crimes in an effort to restore the lives of convicts who have served a part of their stipulated prison time and have been pardoned for their crimes.
Brigadier Ahmad Abdul Aziz Shuhail, Director- General of the Sharjah Punitive and Rehabilitation Establishment, explained to Gulf News on how the Sharjah Government was caring for inmates and their families through a memorandum signed between Sharjah Police and a number of partners, including Ayadi, Sharjah Charity Association and Emirates Red Crescent to conduct rehabilitation programmes and initiatives.
Brigadier Shuhail said a special committee has been set up to arbitrate criminal cases in which deserving inmates sentenced to death are spared when victims’ families are paid blood money.
The Sharjah punitive facility formed a committee to communicate with families of the victims to settle the cases between the two parties. In 99 per cent of cases, the committee has succeeded in bringing about a settlement. The facility also prepares a list of inmates who deserve to be pardoned by the Rulers during Ramadan and Eid.
The priority is to maintain a healthy environment in prison, and conduct rehabilitation programmes that prevent inmates from returning to a life of crime.”
Brigadier Ahmad Abdul Aziz Shuhail | Director- General of the Sharjah Punitive and Rehabilitation Establishment
Blood money given
The rehabilitation facility, for example, in one case paid Dh4 million in blood money to help four prisoners walk free.
Brigadier Shuhail said they had worked to negotiate with an Emirati family to pardon the killer of their son. But the family was asking Dh10 million in blood money. The Gulf national was killed by his relative who tricked him with the help of the victim’s fiance. Four people, including three men and one woman, had been arrested over the murder.
They had spent more than 10 years in jail before getting the pardon with the help of the facility. Sharjah Punitive and Rehabilitation Establishments reduced the amount to Dh4 million and secured the blood money in cooperation with Sharjah Ruler’s Diwan.
The organisation also settled financial cases for three prisoners. While the outstanding amount was Dh351,328, the administration’s negotiators brought the amount down to Dh115,000. The full amount was paid so that the three prisoners can go free.
The three inmates were arrested
a few months ago over rental and financial cases. Theywere released on October 11 after extensive negotiations with complainants.
Debts settled
Of the three prisoners, there was one from Egypt, aged 49, whose dues amounted to Dh217,302. This was reduced to Dh50,000. The second prisoner, from Pakistan aged 35, had his dues lowered from Dh104,000 to Dh50,000. The third prisoner from Bangladesh aged 31, owed Dh30,000, which was reduced to Dh15,000. The three prisoners told officers they could not believe what the authorities had done for them.
This is not the first time the authorities have helped repay debts of prisoners to help reform them and start a new life.
The priority is to maintain a healthy environment in prison, and conduct rehabilitation programmes that prevent inmates from returning to a life of crime, Brigadier Shuhail said, noting that all rehabilitation programmes carried out at the central jail aim to make inmates aware of the mistakes they have committed.
The inmates are assigned daily activities, depending on which rehabilitation programme they have been assigned to undertake. The rehabilitation programme can be either occupational workshops, or an opportunity to continue their education.