https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/02/americas/ecuador-pardon-inmates-deadly-prison-riot-intl/index.htmlEcuador plans to pardon and commute thousands of sentences in order to free up space in the country's prisons following a deadly riot at a penitentiary in the coastal city of Guayaquil this week.
The Director of Ecuador's prison agency SNAI, Bolivar Garzon, said on Friday that up to 2,000 inmates, including elderly people, women and those with disabilities and terminal illnesses, would be prioritized on the pardon list for release and foreign nationals will be deported.
"At the moment, 82 cases are being processed," Garzon said, adding that the SNAI would hand foreigners over to the Ecuadorian government to oversee their repatriation.
Investigations are still ongoing at the Litoral penitentiary in Guayaquil, after violent clashes between rival gangs at the high-security facility left 118 inmates dead and dozens wounded on Tuesday.
According to Ecuadorian Interior Minister Alexandra Vela, the forensic team of the National Police has been able to identify 41 deceased victims and is working to identify 77 additional bodies.
Those killed suffered from injuries resulting from bullets and grenades, according to regional police commander Fausto Buenaño.
