BEIJING -- China's legislature on Saturday approved a prisoner amnesty as part of commemorations of World War II's end that could see thousands of inmates such as war veterans or juveniles released.
The official Xinhua News Agency said the measure approved could free several thousand prisoners by the end of this year, but that the exact number won't be known until provincial courts have finished reviewing sentences.
According to the measure approved by the National People's Congress, those eligible include veterans of World War II, the Chinese civil war that ended with the Communist victory in 1949 and subsequent conflicts such as the 1950-1953 Korean War.
Prisoners over age 75 or below age 18 who were sentenced to three years or less will also be included, along with those who are very ill or unable to care for themselves.
Not eligible will be repeat offenders and those guilty of serious crimes including embezzlement, bribe-taking, terrorism, organized crime, murder, rape and drug offences.
