Justice Keut Rith, who chairs the National Committee for Sentence Reductions and Pardons, oversees a December 19, 2024 meeting of the committee, which granted sentence reductions to 240 inmates. - Photo: Justice ministry
PHNOM PENH: The National Committee for Sentence Reductions and Pardons has completed reviews of applications for clemency by inmates of the Kingdom’s prison system, with two of the applicants – both convicted of incest against their own children – being added to the official “blacklist”, meaning they are permanently ineligible for sentence reductions or clemency.
They will join 66 of their fellow inmates on the list, most of them convicted of serious crimes such as murder, sexual offenses and abuse within families.
Minister of Justice Keut Rith, who also leads the committee, chaired the December 19 session. The attendees reviewed applications for sentence reductions or pardons from 335 prisoners ahead of the 2025 Victory Over Genocide Day on January 7.
Justice ministry secretary of state Kim Santepheap, also a committee member, explained the nature of the blacklist, which includes those convicted of particularly egregious drug or violent crimes, as well as crimes against children, family members, public officials, people with disabilities and pregnant women.
He described the process as reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to ensuring justice and upholding accountability, particularly in cases involving offending serious offences.
Santepheap stressed that all clemency request are rigorously scrutinised, with exceptions granted only in rare or humanitarian circumstances.
He also announced plans for an upcoming special meeting to address clemency considerations for female prisoners, particularly those who are pregnant or caring for children.
During the review session on Thursday (Dec 19), none of the 17 applications for a full pardon were approved.
Five prisoners had their sentences reduced by nine months, 52 by six months and 183 by three months. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
