President Tebboune pardons 5,539 prisoners

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has signed a presidential decree granting a pardon to 5,539 prisoners, Awras reported on Saturday, citing a Presidency statement.

The pardon was issued for the 72nd anniversary of the start of the Liberation Revolution on 1 November 1954, the statement said. The decision was taken after consulting the Supreme Judicial Council, in line with the Constitution, particularly articles 91 and 188, the statement said.

The pardon covers people with a final sentence, whether they are in prison or not, on the date the decree is signed. It applies to those whose sentence, or the part still to be served, is 24 months or less.

The pardon does not apply to people sentenced by military courts. It also excludes people convicted of terrorism, treason, espionage, murder, drug trafficking or escape.

Those convicted of killing or assaulting an ascendant, a close relative in the direct line, are also excluded.

Certain offences against minors are also excluded, whether committed with violence or without it.

The decree also does not cover offences under law 06-01 on the prevention and fight against corruption. Money laundering, currency counterfeiting, smuggling and breaches of foreign exchange and capital movement rules are not covered either.

The Liberation Revolution began on 1 November 1954.