President clarifies that he had prerogative on granting pardon

President George Abela clarified this morning that it had been his prerogative whether or not to grant a pardon to a woman who was jailed for refusing her husband access to their son. Speaking in a radio interview on the PBS programme Ghandi xi Nghid, Dr Abela said the President did not simply act on the advice given to him (by the government) as some journalists had written, but he could exercise his own prerogative. In this case, he said, he had given importance to the views of the couple's son, whom he had met, the Cabinet, Attorney General and the Police, among others. He also pointed out that this had been a partial pardon in that the woman had already served some 20 days in prison. He also said that he has another pending request for another pardon to the same woman over another case related to access. He, therefore, could not comment further. WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS The following is what the Constitution of Malta says:  93. (1) The President shall have power to -(a) grant to any person concerned in or convicted of any offence a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions; (b) grant to any person a respite, either indefinite or for a specified period, of the...