Section 4 Pardons

Pardons are a measure used to nullify punitive authority without a trial, or to change or nullify the content or effect of a trial. There are five types of pardons: general amnesty, special pardon, commutation of sentence, remission of execution of sentence, and restoration of rights.

Pardons can also be divided into pardons bestowed in a Cabinet Order (general amnesty, commutation of sentence, and restoration of rights), which are implemented impartially, and pardons for specific persons (special pardon, commutation of sentence, remission of execution of sentence, and restoration of rights), all of which are granted to specific persons based on an individual examination. Individual pardons (the latter) can be further divided into routine pardons that can be implemented at any time and pardons that can be implemented for a fixed period of time, based on criteria decided by Cabinet.

Only routine pardons were granted in 2010, with two persons being granted remission of execution of sentence and 46 restoration of their rights (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Rehabilitation).