Eligibility for parole and consideration for parole

(1) An offender other than an offender sentenced to death, is eligible for consideration for release on parole upon the expiry of the following periods from the date of his reception in a prison after sentencing– (a) the minimum term fixed by the Court in accordance with section 106(3) of the Criminal Code, in the case of an offender convicted of the offence of murder and undergoing a sentence of imprisonment for life; CAP. 101. (b) fifteen years, in the case of any other offender undergoing a sentence of imprisonment for life; (c) one half of the term of imprisonment, in the case of any serious offender undergoing a sentence, other than an offender specified in any of the preceding paragraphs; and (d) one third of the term of imprisonment, in the case of a lesser offender undergoing a sentence. 8 [CAP. (2) As soon as an offender has become eligible to be considered for release on parole under sub-section (1), the Director shall refer the case of the offender to the Board for (3) Nothing in sub-section (2) precludes an offender from himself applying to the Board for consideration of his case, after he has become eligible to be considered for release on parole under sub-section (1). (4) Where the Board has decided not to release an offender on parole, the offender may from time to time apply to the Board for a further consideration of his case; however, the Board may not consider a further application under this sub-section at any time within one year after the making of a previous application. (5) Notwithstanding the previous sub-sections, the Board may of its own motion or at the request of any member of the Board, at any time after the expiry of the appropriate period specified in sub-section (1), consider the case of an eligible offender, with a view to his being released on parole. (6) In considering the case of any eligible offender, the Board or any member authorized in writing by the Board may interview the offender at the prison or require the offender to attend before a meeting of the Board.