«El Rico» libera a dos hermanos condenados en Málaga
The Hermandad de nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno «El Rico» in Málaga will release two young brothers in Malaga who have been serving a sentence at the Social Insert Center (CIS) Evaristo Martín in the capital for around thirty years for a crime against public health on this sacred Wednesday. They were scheduled to be released in 2021 due to exceptional circumstances, as three individuals were already granted release in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic.
Salvador and Jesús, two Spanish brothers from the province of Malaga, were involved in the same case of a crime against public health and were sentenced to three years and one day in prison, which was further reduced to seven months. The decision to grant them clemency came after a lengthy period of deliberation and evaluation by various institutions, considering up to five different individuals.
The announcement was made by the sub-governor of Málaga, Javier Salas, along with the elder brother of the Hermandad de El Rico, Ramón Varerea, the national police commissioner, and the director of the CIS, during a press conference on Tuesday to provide details of this traditional government pardon, which was approved on this day.
Javier Salas expressed, «I had the opportunity to meet with them, and I want to convey that these two individuals have shown exemplary behavior in fulfilling their sentence. They are very happy and grateful for this opportunity granted by the government.» He further explained that both brothers are currently employed, highlighting that their successful reintegration demonstrates that past mistakes can be rectified. He emphasized the belief that individuals who have been punished can become productive members of society and reintegrate successfully.
«I am confident that they will make the most of this new opportunity, reuniting with their families and loved ones. On behalf of the Spanish government, I extend our best wishes for this new chapter,» said Salas, expressing appreciation for the collaborative efforts of the government and the Hermandad de El Rico in facilitating this pardon.
Ramón Varerea, the elder brother of the Hermandad de El Rico, expressed his satisfaction with the continuation of this tradition for another year, describing it as emblematic for the Semana Santa of Malaga and Andalusia.
The tradition of releasing a prisoner in Málaga each year is attributed to Jesús ‘El Rico’. This custom dates back to the reign of Carlos III when a disease outbreak prevented the sacred images from being paraded. At that time, prisoners were allowed to leave the procession and subsequently return to prison.
As a token of gratitude for this gesture, Carlos III granted Jesús ‘El Rico’ the privilege of releasing a prisoner annually, a tradition that has endured to this day. During the Liberation Ceremony held at Plaza del Uspo, El Rico, our Father Jesus, bestows his blessing.
FUENTE
