Another batch of convicts released under the Second Chance Program

A second batch of convicts have been released tonight, under the Second Chance Program announced by President Mohamed Nasheed, under which the government has decided to give some 400 convicted criminals a chance to come back to the society and start living as good, law-abiding citizens.

56 convicts were released tonight, in a ceremony held at Imaaduddin School, Malé.

Speaking in the ceremony, Minister of State for Home Affairs Mohamed Naeem, who is in-charge of the administration of Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services, said that 129 convicts were planned to be released tonight. However, the number, he said, was reduced to 56 for a number of various reasons.

This is the fifth round of releasing convicts under the program, and this batch brings the total of released convicts under the program to 274.

The convicts are given a second chance under some conditions, which include participation in rehabilitation programs, going to jobs secured for them by the government, and observing a curfew from 22:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs for the first three months after their release.