Leniency for Kalimantan inmates

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Thirty-five convicts in the province will be pardoned and released, while another 282 will have their prison terms reduced to mark the commemoration of the Independence Day on Aug. 17.

The head of the provincial justice office, M. Sadeli, confirmed the decision yesterday and said that this meant all the names forwarded for pardon or a sentence reduction had been approved by President Soeharto.

Antara reported yesterday that the 317 prisoners is, however, a smaller figure than last year when 322 were released or had their sentences reduced.

Sadeli explained that those that had had their sentences reduced had shown good conduct. None of them are political prisoners.(mds)