Since the beginning of the year, when applications are handled exclusively by the Office of the President of the Republic, over 700 have arrived at the Castle. Now the President of the Republic has decided to grant four applicants.
The President of the Republic decided to pardon the remainder of the sentence of less than 300 days to a twenty-nine-year-old mother caring for three minor children. The sentence was imposed on her for a less serious property crime and caused damage in the amount of less than thirteen thousand crowns. The President paid particular attention to the need to provide care for children between the ages of three and seven, who are now being looked after by their father. He cannot go to work, which worsens the family’s already unfavorable financial situation. The competent childcare authority also supported the decision to grant a pardon.
The President of the Republic granted a pardon to a thirty-six-year-old mother who, before her imprisonment, took care of her seven children aged between two and nine. As part of the pardon, she was pardoned the remainder of her prison sentence totaling four years and four months, part of which she had already served. The sentences were imposed on her for theft and unauthorized business, which she committed 10 to 12 years ago. Their father took care of the children. Due to the demanding nature of care, there is a risk of children being taken away and placed in foster care or institutional care. The competent childcare authority also supported the decision to grant a pardon.
A pardon request for a thirty-six-year-old foreigner, a university student, long-term resident, and worker in the Czech Republic, who crashed into two parked cars while driving under the influence of alcohol and caused damage in the amount of less than one hundred and twelve thousand crowns, was also positively processed. He paid this in full, as well as a fine of sixty thousand crowns, and served more than half of the two-year driving ban. However, for the misdemeanor, he was threatened with the cancellation of his long-term residence permit in the Czech Republic, which would be a much harsher punishment for him as a result. He has been living here for seven years, owns an apartment together with his wife, and has created all the necessary family, work, and social background. He pays taxes, has never been registered at the labor office, or received social or other benefits. He has also not committed any other crime or misdemeanor here so far.
The last pardon received was a 76-year-old Czech citizen who was sentenced abroad to a 27-year non-conditional prison sentence for drug smuggling. Due to the applicant’s age, this sentence is de facto a life sentence. The President of the Republic also took into account the fact that in the Czech Republic, the penalty for the same criminal offense is between eight and twelve years. The applicant has already served six years of his sentence abroad, less than two years ago he was transferred back to the Czech Republic, where he is serving the remainder. The granted pardon will reduce the sentence from twenty-seven to a total of eight years, which the convict will complete in November of this year, and will therefore be in line with the lower limit of the criminal rate set in the Czech Republic.
Under the previous president, Miloš Zeman, the power of granting pardons was transferred to the Ministry of Justice. However, the president decided last year to return the agenda of pardons from the Ministry of Justice back to the Office of the President of the Republic.
From January 1, 2024, applications will be assessed exclusively by the Office of the President of the Republic.