The Department of Justice and Correctional Services receives and considers applications forPresidential pardons. The Department undertakes an evaluation of the matter and prepares a recommendation to the President on whether or not it will be in the public interest to grant a pardon. All matters are considered on their own merit and the recommendation is forwarded by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services to the President.
I have been informed that with regard to the matter of Mr Babeile, the Department of Justice does not have any record of such a matter being received and therefore have not prepared any recommendation for the President in respect of this matter.
Thus, there is no record of any application for pardon received from Mr Babeile and the President is not aware of his circumstances. His matter would be considered by the Department of Justice and Correctional Services upon receipt of a written application.