George J. Borteh
9 April 2008
The Executive Director of the Prison Fellowship of Liberia (PFL), Rev. Francis Kollie has disclosed that his organization facilitated the release of over 36 alleged criminals from several prisons in the country.
He said those set free are mainly from the Monrovia Central Prison as well as the Kakata Prison Center in Margibi county. The PFL chief executive made the disclosure last week in an interview with The Analyst.
According to him, some of the prisoners committed minor crimes and have stayed behind bars beyond the statutory period without being allowed to go through the due process of law.
He described their prolonged detention without trial as violation of their rights, and also stressed that the Ministry of Justice lacks the evidence to prosecute them.
Having sought the release of the detainees, he said he would make sure that the government releases prisoners who according to him spent more than two to three years without having their days in court.
At the same time, Rev. Kollie said his organization has received US$24,000 grant from the American Ambassador Donald Booth. According to him, the grant will be used to off write the tuitions of the over 100 prisoners' children who are in school.
He said the grant is intended for 90 children in four counties, namely Montserrado, Margibi, Bong and Grand Bassa Counties, adding that about 150 children are benefiting.
The ages of prisoners' children benefiting are from 1-30 years and all of said children, according to him are attending schools that have been chosen by Ambassador Booth. "The ambassador himself has chosen schools like the Catholic, Assembles and other ell known schools in the Liberian society.
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