MONROVIA, Montserrado – An Activist in Monrovia has questioned President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s executive order granting clemency to 34 inmates.

Sirleaf, using her executive powers, ordered the inmates released on Thursday as part of activities leading to the new year.

The inmates are from the Monrovia Central Prison and other prisons across the country. Recommendations for their release came from the Ministry of Justice.

“Go in peace, stay on the right path, and be law-abiding citizens and keep strong during the festive season,” Sirleaf said. “I urge you never to again get involved with what led you to prison.”

Article 59 of the constitution allows the president to “grant reprieves and pardon, and restore civil rights after conviction for all public offenses, except impeachment.”

According to the Executive Mansion, the freed detainees were serving jail terms on charges ranging from theft to drug-related offenses.

Sirleaf encouraged the former inmates to seek training that would qualify them for the job market.

Lawrence Chea, the executive director for Liberia Democracy Watch, said that although the president was using her executive power, some of those granted clemency were not legally qualified.

Chea said the constitution gives the president the right to free only convicted detainees. He claims that five of the freed detainees were pre-trial detainees.

“The constitution states only convicted persons can benefit from the president’s executive clemency, not pre-trial detainees,” he said.

Chea did not, however, name his source or the names of the pre-trial detainees.

A senior probation officer at the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitations who agreed to speak anonymously said no portion of the constitution was violated.

“It is in the purview of the president to determine who to grant clemency to,” the officer said.

While he did not confirm whether some of the inmates were pre-trial detainees, he said there was nothing wrong with releasing pre-trial detainees on executive clemency.

Featured photo by UN Photo/Christopher Herwig