PHNOM PENH: A total of 245 prisoners, including 28 women, had their sentences commuted by the King of Cambodia in honor of January 7 Victory Day.

On January 7, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice, Kim Santepheap, made the announcement on the Ministry’s Facebook page.

"On the occasion of the 2024 Day of Victory over the Genocidal Regime, according to the obeisance of Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Hun Manet, His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia is willing to grant a commutation of 245 prisoners (28 women) for this holiday," said the post.

According to the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Justice, 178 convicts had their sentences reduced to three months, 57 prisoners to six months, eight prisoners to nine months, one prisoner to 12 months and one prisoner had his life sentence commuted to 30 years.

According to the statement, no sentences were commuted for drug-related activity, domestic abuse, sexual assault of a minor or person with disability and a handful of other crimes.

The King regularly commutes sentences on major Cambodian holidays such as Khmer New Year, Water Festival and National Independence Day.

In Cambodia, there are more than 40,000 people imprisoned, including more than 2,000 women, 51% of whom are imprisoned on drug-related charges. This is even more prisoners than were recorded by a UN Human Rights Council report issued in 2021, which said that Cambodian prisons are woefully overpopulated, operating at 343% capacity.