RIYADH: Over 10,000 public right prisoners will benefit from the pardon issued by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, on the occasion of his return to the nation after treatment abroad, according to Maj. Gen. Dr. Ali Bin Hussein Al-Harthi, Director General of Prisons. Al-Harthi said the Royal Order will include Saudi and non-Saudi public right prisoners who fulfill the conditions, out of a total of 49,000 male and female prisoners, which is the total number of inmates in correction houses and prisons in the Kingdom. He said the Royal Order will not cover the debt payments of prisoners related to criminal cases. Al-Harthi thanked Allah for the return of the King after his recovery. He said this was the wish of every citizen in this country. He said the King's pardon reflects the concern of the ruler for all citizens. He explained the categories of public right prisoners covered by the King's order and the meaning of public right. He said the public right is the state's right and it does not include private rights. He said the state protects private rights. The King's pardon covers public right prisoner provided the prisoner fulfills the conditions of the pardon. The conditions for the release of the prisoners will depend on their crimes and further details contained in the Royal Order, he added. He said he was confident that the number of those who will benefit from the King's gesture could exceed 10,000 prisoners. It could even be far more than this number, he added.
