21 Dec 2011

13 prisoners in Samoa including a former TV boss freed from jail

2:41 pm on 21 December 2011

Samoa's Parole Board committee, chaired by the chief justice, has accepted the early release from jail of 13 prisoners who had served more than half of their sentences.

They include a former TV boss and journalist, Tuiasau Uelese Petaia, who was jailed for 18 months when he was found guilty of several charges of theft.

24 prisoners had applied for early release on parole but five applicants were denied while two other prisoners withdrew their applications for undisclosed reasons.

Another four applications have been deferred to the next meeting of the parole board.