Tuvalu, Dec. 23 -- Two Fijian sailors, imprisoned in Tuvalu since 2012 have been pardoned and allowed to return home today.

Epeli Kamikamica and Samuela Dolesau were imprisoned for life for the murder of a Chinese national in April 2011.

The two Fiji nationals, who were crew members of Chinese fishing boat, were convicted for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. At the time of their conviction the penalty for murder was mandatory life sentence, without the prospect of release as there is no parole law in Tuvalu.

Announcing their release, Tuvalu's Minister for Justice and Foreign Affairs, Simon Kofe said in 2014, Parliament amended the Penal Code to reduce the penalty for murder from life imprisonment to a minimum 15 years with th...