Malawi Prisons Service (MPS) has warned tricksters who are demanding money from prisoners’ relations to have their relatives released on pardon.

The development follows President Peter Mutharika directive to pardon some of inmates as one way of decongesting prisons in the country to fight Covid-19.

Mutharika requested the prison department to analyze inmates to be on the pardon list especially those with petty offense, juveniles and those who are old.

However, it is said that some people are taking advantage of those who have people in the country’s prisons’ by demanding money from them.

In a statement seen by Face of Malawi reporter, the department has stressed that it is only the president who is mandated to release inmates.

“Prisons Department would like to inform the general public that it has no mandate on its own to release inmates. It is only the President of the Republic of Malawi who is empowered by section 89 of the Republican Constitution to release inmates through the Advisory Committee on the Pardon. A pardon is entirely free of charge,” reads the statement.

The statement further advised the general public to report such issues to Malawi Police Services or Malawi Prisons Service. It is a crime and punishable by the laws of Malawi.