Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered the release of 391 inmates of various nationalities and pledged to settle their debts and financial obligations.

The prisoners were serving various jail terms according to the court rulings issued in their cases.

The release of prisoners, who are a mix of citizens and expatriates of various nationalities, comes as part of the President's keenness to give the pardoned inmates an opportunity to start a new life and reduce the burden of their families.

Yousuf Saeed Al Ibri, acting Abu Dhabi Attorney-General, praised Shaikh Khalifa's kind gesture to pardon the prisoners, and said the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution has started its coordination with Abu Dhabi Police to implement the order and ensure the return of the pardoned prisoners to their families.

He thanked General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Judiciary Department, for their keen interest and close follow up.

The initiative will reflect positively on the pardoned prisoners and their families and encourages them to get back to the right path.