Royal pardon for inmate who earned PhD behind bars

In a tale of resilience and redemption, a prisoner known as Murad (not his real name) has been granted a royal pardon by the Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, in conjunction with the latter’s birthday yesterday.

Murad’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. He made history as the first individual under the Prison Department to earn a PhD in Business Administration while serving his sentence.

Detained at the Kajang Prison Drug Rehabilitation Centre at the mercy of the Selangor sultan since 2001, Murad was just 14 years old when he began his prison term.

Over the years, he demonstrated remarkable determination, using his time in prison to pursue and complete his advanced education.

The joyous moment of Murad’s release was captured in a statement from the Prison Department, where his emotions shone through as Kajang Prison director Preshahdin Monshee read the warrant for his freedom.

During the release ceremony, Preshahdin commended Murad’s efforts and advised him to uphold discipline and leverage his hard-earned knowledge to build a better future.

He also assured that the department remains committed to supporting Murad’s reintegration into society.

In expressing gratitude, Murad thanked Sultan Sharafuddin for the royal pardon.

He also acknowledged the department for its unwavering support in providing him the opportunity to pursue his education, culminating in his PhD achievement.

Murad reflected on the department’s rehabilitation efforts, praising its role in giving individuals like him a second chance.

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