Sierra Leonean authorities have released 352 prisoners, including famous rapper Alhaji Amadu Bah, known as Boss LAJ, who was serving a nine-year prison sentence for robbery.
The country’s information ministry said they were released following an amnesty Monday by President Julius Maada Bio.
The move comes just a month after more than 20 people were killed and about 2,000 prisoners escaped in a coup attempt.
Bah, one of those who escaped, later surrendered to prison authorities in the capital Freetown.
“Today the president released our brother King Boss La and 351 other detainees across the country,” Information Minister Chernor Bah told AFP.
The minister said the rapper had “demonstrated good citizenship” by voluntarily returning to prison.
Prison authorities said some of the released prisoners, including 11 women, were serving sentences for “minor crimes”.
Rapper Bah is known for his lyrics criticizing President Bio’s government. More than 80 people, mostly military officers, were arrested following the coup attempt.