2,700 convicts to be pardoned, among them 400 corrupt – penitentiaries’ chief says

According to an analysis conducted by the National Administration of Penitentiaries (ANP), some 2,700 convicts would benefit of the pardon law, among them 400 sentenced for corruption, ANP chief Marius Vulpe said on Monday, ziare.com reports.

The number of inmates has fallen by 200-300 lately, currently there are about 27,300 convicts imprisoned, Vulpe said.

The information has been collected in view of the talks with Justice Minister Tudorel Toader.

“Any steps to relax the overcrowding in penitentiaries are of interest for us and, as far as we can, we support them. (…) About 2,700 convicts would benefit from the draft law on pardon, but the ones sentenced for corruption to benefit would be about 2,300,” Marius Vulpe said.

The draft bill on pardon, submitted to parliament by the Grindeanu cabinet, is in the Senate legal committee. Although the PSD leaders claimed no corruption deeds would be pardoned, Senator Serban Nicolae, head of the legal committee, submitted amendments in this regard which stirred public dismay. On Monday Serban Nicolae said he is ready to withdraw the amendments, following PSD leader Liviu Dragnea’s request, however there are other senators who have filed amendments aiming to ease the sentences of the convicts sentenced for corruption.

The ANP chief added that four penitentiaries are to be modernized in the coming period, in Giurgiu, Deva, Codlea and Targu Mures. “The project altogether is scheduled for 2016-2017 and we expect 850 additional accommodations,” Marius Vulpe said.