Royal pardon for inmate who earned PhD in prison

 

Murad (not his real name), with Kajang prison director Preshahdin Monshee, prior to his release today. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

A prisoner who spent the last 23 years behind bars after being convicted of killing his employer in a fit of anger is now a free man after receiving a pardon from Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in conjunction with the Selangor ruler’s 79th birthday.

The prisons department said Murad (not his real name) is the first prisoner from the Malaysian prison system to hold a PhD in business administration, which he earned while incarcerated.

FMT previously reported that Murad passed his SPM examination and acquired a diploma, a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree while serving time.

“During Murad’s release, a mix of joy and emotion was evident on his face after the release warrant was read out by Kajang prison director Preshahdin Monshee,” said the prisons department in a statement.

“Preshahdin also advised Murad to maintain a high level of discipline and use his knowledge to better himself after his release.”

In the statement, the prisons department said Murad started serving his sentence at the age of 14 in 2001.

In his speech, Murad expressed his gratitude to Sultan Sharafuddin for granting him the pardon and extended his thanks to the prisons department for giving him the opportunity to continue his studies and earn a PhD.

Murad said he would always remember the department’s kindness and believed in the role it played in rehabilitating inmates like him.

As a minor, Murad was not sentenced to a jail term but ordered to be detained at the pleasure of the Sultan of Selangor (the state where the offence took place).

Adults convicted of murder could be sentenced to life imprisonment or to death.

Under the law, detention at the ruler’s pleasure meant Murad would only be eligible for release at the discretion of the ruler. - FMT