Malaysia drafts law on prisoner transfers to ease overcrowding

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's prisons department has drafted a law which would allow convicted foreigners to be transferred to their countries of origin in a move to ease overcrowding in jails, a news report said Tuesday. The draft, which is due to be tabled in Parliament by 2011, would enable foreigners convicted in Malaysia to be sent back to their own countries to serve out their sentences, said Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusop.

He said the law would also allow Malaysians in foreign prisons to be brought home, but added that the transfers would depend on individual cases and countries.

"It's not automatic. The law will give us the power to establish cooperation with the respective countries.

"Once we have the law, we will discuss the matter with the various countries and if they agree to the transfer, we will sign a memorandum of understanding with them," Abu Seman was quoted as saying by the Star online news portal.

Convicted foreign prisoners from 20 different countries currently make up 26 per cent, or 8,454 out of 32,443 inmates, in prisons nationwide, the report said.

Rights groups have often criticized the overcrowded and unsavory living conditions of Malaysia's 10 prisons.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/302154,malaysia-drafts-law-on-prisoner-transfers-to-ease-overcrowding.html.