Released

Parole Granted: Jessica Wongso Released Early for Good Behavior After Serving Over 8 Years in High-Profile Murder Case

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Jakarta, Indonesia – In a surprising turn of events, Jessica Wongso, previously serving a 20-year sentence for the premeditated murder of Wayan Mirna Salihin in 2016, has been granted parole after 8.5 years in prison. Her lawyer, Otto Hasibuan, expressed astonishment at the decision made by the East Jakarta Class II A Pondok Bambu Correctional Institution, which has deemed her eligible following a substantial reduction in her sentence. Jessica won a total remission of 58 months and 30 days during her incarceration, effectively reducing her original sentence based on a series of decrements awarded for … Read more

ACLU Launches Supreme Court Challenge Against Nebraska Voting Rights Decision for Released Felons

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LINCOLN, Neb. — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska has launched a legal challenge against key state election officials, specifically targeting the refusal by Secretary of State Bob Evnen to enact a new policy designed to grant voting rights to felons immediately after their release from prison. This legal contention stems from Evnen’s decision following a determination by Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who declared the new legislation unconstitutional. The law in question—known informally as LB 20—sought to amend previous statutes regarding the post-incarceration rights of convicted felons. The heart of the dissent … Read more

Congo Journalist Stanis Bujakera Released After False Information Charges

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KINSHASA, Congo — Journalist Stanis Bujakera has been released from detention in Congo after being held since last September on charges of spreading false information, according to his lawyer. Bujakera, who works for international media outlets including Reuters and Jeune Afrique, was released on Tuesday evening from the prison in Kinshasa, the Congolese capital. The court in Kinshasa had recently found Bujakera guilty of spreading false information and sentenced him to six months in prison, along with a fine of 1 million Congolese francs ($364). However, he was released on Tuesday after serving his sentence. … Read more

Released from Prison: Senegalese Opposition Leader Ousmane Sonko and Presidential Candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye Set Free Ahead of Election

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DAKAR, Senegal – Ousmane Sonko, the prominent Senegalese opposition leader, along with his fellow presidential candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye, were released from prison on Thursday evening, just 10 days before the scheduled election. The release came after weeks of turmoil and crisis, following the decision by President Macky Sall to postpone the February 25 presidential vote. Sonko, who has been a key figure in the opposition and a vocal critic of the government, has spent months behind bars, with various charges levied against him. The legal case, coupled with economic and social tensions, led to … Read more