My life experience in Changi Prison (Cluster B)

[Gara]

Originally Posted by KevinJacob

Hey bro looking at your thread made me want to step forward and share my experience. Not exactly mine but my dad. After reading your thread it made me recall those scenario when i attended court to attend my dad sentence. Moments like watching my dad being handcuffed saddens me a lot and the last hug i had when my dad's lawyer asked for a stand off to decide if he wanted to

1st : Appeal for his sentence which would be delayed for about 2-3months.
2nd : To serve his sentence immediately
3rd : To serve his sentence 1 week later

My dad chose the 2nd option as his lawyer told him it was the best/ideal choice as the faster he get over with it, he can start a new life earlier rather than appealing and delay the process cause my dad was definitely bound to serve and appealing would only have a 50/50 percent chance. 3rd option was definitely a NO as during that 1 week, you will definitely be unable to sleep etc.

My dad was sentenced to cluster B as well, white collar on the 2nd of June if i didnt remember wrongly. In case some bro are curious what offence my dad actually made, please allow me to elaborate.

My dad runs his own business and in order to be favored, under table give the project manager $ in return of multi-million dollar project and ship repair etc. Though its inevitable in this industry, unfortunately my dad didnt do his paper work properly. Besides, he has a low level of education and was once a taxi driver and worked his ass off to achieve all that this family have currently. His ex-worker who is a burmese ( Operational Manager ) actually quarreled with him and infront of all the staff and challenged my dad to fire him if he wasn't happy with him. Thus my dad terminated him and he went to complain to MOM that when he was working for my dads company, safety measures were not implemented. In the end MOM drop the issue as they visited my dad company and realize everything was up to standard.

So my dad itchy backside also go counter sue him back till that guy bankcrupt and demanded an apology on newspaper. End up that guy bui song go report to CPIB saying my dad under table give $.

The investigation went on for 2 years and in June 2011 was sentenced to 14weeks of imprisonment. My dad was damn devastated upon hearing the verdict as he was expecting 8-10weeks. There was a moment of hesitation in him but he wanted to start anew asap. Thankfully, he served only 5 weeks and went through a course in the jail and was permitted home detention.

He only served 9weeks+ as there is always a 33.33% discount from the final verdict. Means if judge send you to 3 years, you only serve 2 years. Plus 1 month only can visit 2 times. 1st time tele-visit ( webcam ) and 2nd time face to face at Changi prison. Webcam have to go geylang 1 of the police station.

This experienced i went through will always stay with my heart as it made me treasure my father more. The atmosphere at the court was damn solemn and i cried non-stop. The first few days was damn tough for me. But it made me strong and a better person.

Anyway bro, after reading your story maybe by chance my dad know you. Hehe!

Thanks for your sharing. Don be sad and just relax. Your father must be doing great now in CPC. (Tagline: Eat good, Sleep good) .

Can i include your story in my coming chapter? Thought it will be good to share with my readers from other forum about your feeling as a vicitim. But don worri, name will not be mention. Do let me know...Thanks.

[KevinJacob]

Absolutely!

[sgspycam]

Originally Posted by KevinJacob

Absolutely!

Hi Bro KelvinJacob,

whilst I appreciate bro Gara's effort in posting his story, I also like your story very much as it really allows us to understand what kind of impact crime and the type of punishment has on the relatives and loved ones...

Thanks for sharing your experience...

[Gara]

Originally Posted by KevinJacob

Absolutely!

Thanks.. i will let you know how's ya story response from other forum once i done editing and posting.

[Gara]

Chapter 3.2: My 7 new room mates

The house rules in B4 are the same as B2. But I had warned by one of the inmate that B4 tends to be more strict and there are some 'officers' whom we have to be careful with. Don't ever try anything funny with these 'officers', they will punish you without further warning.

Punishment for misbehave and not following the house rules:

Contribution of 1 - 2 thumbprints from the offender.

2 x thumbprints from repeated offences or 3 x thumbprints from different offences will change you a additional 1 - 3 days of jail term.

For more serious offences (example masterbuting, fighting, etc..), Inmate will get 'tumba' which will change you additional jail terms from few days to few weeks based on case by case basis.

Welfare for the inmates in prison now is much more better compared to years back while the remand prison is still located at Queenstown. Those stories which you readers had heard of or read through do really existed years back. Common stories being passed down for centuries are fighting in cell room, the strongest bully the weakest, food from the weakness are to give to the strongest, smoking in prison, shower and drink water from the toilet flush, using own toothbrush to clean the toilet areas, gay inmates forcing other inmates to XXX, officers whacking the inmates, inmates commit suicide, etc....

Now the darkness world which we used to heard of, are no longer exist. The welfare and prison safety and security system had improve. Mindset of 'most' inmates including those serving LT sentences had changed as well. Inmates have only one common goals in mind, and that is to respect, behave and get back their freedom as soon as possible!

Some of the readers may be thinking that inmate's life in prison now must be so relaxing since the darkness day are over. Thinking that what inmates do daily are only eat, shower, sleep and nothing else. Well, all I can say the mental torture still remains the same ever since the first day when Prison were bulid. Spending a day in cellroom is like months. Imagine being trapped in a small empty room almost 23 hours per day. The only thing you get to see and get entertained are only your roomates and the walls. Sleepless night on the hard floor which makes our bones suffer on the following day. Meals that are just enough to fill inmate's stomach.

Till now , I can still remember on what my SOP had told me when I am in B4:

' Prison only provide discipline and you can find no love in here! You can only find real love from your home'

For readers whom are reading my story now and is working as prison officer or is a ex-convict, I welcome you correct me if anything I wrote here is not correct!

In cellroom 629, there were other 7 inmates beside me consisting of 1 hindi, 2 malays and the rest are chinese. Ageing from youngest 20 years old to oldest 55 years old, commiting different kind of offences. But 1 thing in common from all of us is we are all first-time offender. Our cell room is a 'first-timer' cell room.

Everyone in the cell room seems to be friendly and most of them seem to be highly educated and had worked as professional from different trades. Spending a whole day lock-up with my new roomates knowing and understanding their backgrounds ( the offences from these roomates are CBT, not paying fines, assisting shoarkloans, and AWOL from army), I realised that I was not 'alone'............................

--- To Be Continue (Chapter 3.3: About My Past) ---

[OngLengKi]

Originally Posted by Gara

Its a procedure from CPC. I have tried cover and explain as much as possible in my story already.

Thanks but I haven't really understand what is the significance of Cluster A B or C ?

Maybe I rephrase my question. Like is it Cluster A - inmates with minor offence, Cluster B - inmates with death penalty ?

Or it Cluster A referring to inmates in Changi Prison, CLuster B - inmates in Queenstown Remand Prison ?

Thanks

[OngLengKi]

Originally Posted by Gara

Chapter 3.2: My 7 new room mates

The house rules in B4 are the same as B2. But I had warned by one of the inmate that B4 tends to be more strict

Paiseh, what does B4 and B2 means ?

Till now , I can still remember on what my SOP had told me when I am in B4:

' Prison only provide discipline and you can find no love in here! You can only find real love from your home'

Who is SOP ? Prison Officer or inmates ?

Sorry if you explained already & i missed it.

Thanks



For readers whom are reading my story now and is working as prison officer or is a ex-convict, I welcome you correct me if anything I wrote here is not correct![/B]

In cellroom 629, there were other 7 inmates beside me consisting of 1 hindi, 2 malays and the rest are chinese. Ageing from youngest 20 years old to oldest 55 years old, commiting different kind of offences. But 1 thing in common from all of us is we are all first-time offender. Our cell room is a 'first-timer' cell room.

Everyone in the cell room seems to be friendly and most of them seem to be highly educated and had worked as professional from different trades. Spending a whole day lock-up with my new roomates knowing and understanding their backgrounds ( the offences from these roomates are CBT, not paying fines, assisting shoarkloans, and AWOL from army), I realised that I was not 'alone'............................

--- To Be Continue (Chapter 3.3: About My Past) ---[/QUOTE]

[Gara]

Originally Posted by OngLengKi

Thanks but I haven't really understand what is the significance of Cluster A B or C ?

Maybe I rephrase my question. Like is it Cluster A - inmates with minor offence, Cluster B - inmates with death penalty ?

Or it Cluster A referring to inmates in Changi Prison, CLuster B - inmates in Queenstown Remand Prison ?

Thanks

Cluster = Block
Cluster B2/ B4= Block 2#2(unit no.) / Block 2#4

----------------

Inmates claimed that Cluster A is for superlong sentences inmates, 'big shot' criminal, abd death sentences. Cluster B cover up the rest of inmates (mostly sentences below 10years) I may be wrong as it was being told by those lau jia in prison

-----------------

SOP is prison officers, like the rank of CO in army.

[Greatking]

Originally Posted by Gara

Believe me.. Prison cell rooms are so clean till you can't even find an ant.

Seem like Prison is better than SAF DB... i had to battle with mosquitos every night!

[Greatking]

Originally Posted by Gara

My 2nd Day lockup at Cluster B2


Note: The timing mentioned in this thread is estimated. We are being briefed prison’s house rules by the officers during our in-process. Watches and clocks are not allowed in CPC.

The lights are switch on at 5am. No alarm are needed to wake the inmates up. We will wake up automatic thanks to the sudden brightness from the ceiling. We wake up, wash up and get ourselves ready before muster check about 6.30am (there will be 5 x bell ring sound to inform us to get ready for the muster check). Then breakfast are served to us by the cookies about 7am. We eat in our cell room not in canteen that you normally seem in movies and dramas. Our food are passed to us through a small rectangle hole at the bottom of the metallic cell door. We are to pass our drinking mug to the cookies through that hole for them to pour in the hot drinks.

Note: Breakfast in prison is standard. We are served with 4pcs of breads that are apply with either butter cream or strawberry jam and either coffee/ milk tea on alternate days. Inmates whom have health problem in taking sugar will only entitled breads with butter cream and teh-o (plain tea) daily.

After we are done on our meal, we will walk 1 end to another, left to right then right to left repeatedly in our small cell room for digestion. There is another muster check about 9am then again at 12pm. What we do to pass time in our cell room all this moment is shower, sing, joke, chat, encourage and share personal views and problems to each other. Lunch are served to us soon by the cookies after muster check at 12pm. The lunch menu for the day are served in a green colour regular plastic plate with plain rice, 1 full-boiled egg, and cooked cabbage.

All races are being served the same dishes

Colour plate Info: Green = Normal, Blue = Off sugar, Yellow = Off beans, Red = Veg only

Although we sat and ate our every meal on the floor where we slept everyday, we will always clean the floor using our soap and towel everytime after meal. We together (all the room mates) eat, sleep, clean and do everything together no matter the difference of our ages and backgrounds!

Minutes pass in jail is like days. Another Muster check at 3pm again then dinner are served to us at 5pm. Dinner's menu is served with plain rice, a oven baked drumstick, side mixed veg and side gravy (I can say the drumstick taste good. As usual, we clean the floor after done, walking around in the cell room like ghost, then shower again. Last muster check at 7pm, then 9pm lights off.. That goes my 2nd day in CPC!

All we do throughout the day is eat, shower, sleep again and again.

Advice for readers: - It will be too late to think, worry, stress yourself once you are in prison. You need to put down all your worries and your life in prison will be easier!

--------------------continue---------------------

The breakfast and the timing are very similar to SAF DB ar... the number of breads and the standard meals...

[Greatking]

Originally Posted by Gara

Readers can view this video clip (just upoaded in my FB page) if you want to have a better view and unstanding of the inner surronding of CPC where the inmates are being lockup.

Even the layout is so similar.... fcuk... not going back to the scary place again!

[Lennyberg]

from what i remember cluster A4 is RTC.

A3 is old MCP (less than 10)

A2, A1 is the old changi and some sec 55 ppl. (Long sentence)

i maybe wrong.

[HokkienPeng]

Old CP have a few blocks which I think most old birds will remember. A, B, C, D, E and F if I'm not wrong. I was from the old CP and was also one of the first to move to cluster A.

In cluster A, there are 5 divisions. A1 to A5. Each Division has 3 housing units and are normally called as HU1 to HU3.

A5 Is for laundry workers, pre release and staff cafe. A4 is for kitchen workers, RTC and 55. A3 is for bakery and some industrial work and can't really remember. A2 and A1 is basically the hardcore ones from CP. The blue collar and red collar ones. Means? Blue collar is PD. Preventive detention means no remission. 10 or 20 years means they have to sit it straight out. Red collar are those with more than 20years sentence like the SIA cheating case guy.

Condemn prisoners are also in cluster A. Can't really remember which division and hu is from which old prison as I was out for more than 6 years.

As for shaving of armpit and pubic hair is because of hygiene. All disposable shavers have a 2 week shelf life. All are labelled with the inmate number and stored into a box like a key press. That is why no shaving is allowed.

I had stints in A3 during transfer from old CP as part of the first kitchen crew needed to start up the new kitchen from the old CP. Then to A4 when the rest of the CP shifted in. Then to A5 as part of the staff cafe inmate serving the staff. As for my long story I'll prob meet TS and let him write my story.

Cheers.

[Gara]

Originally Posted by HokkienPeng

Old CP have a few blocks which I think most old birds will remember. A, B, C, D, E and F if I'm not wrong. I was from the old CP and was also one of the first to move to cluster A.

In cluster A, there are 5 divisions. A1 to A5. Each Division has 3 housing units and are normally called as HU1 to HU3.

A5 Is for laundry workers, pre release and staff cafe. A4 is for kitchen workers, RTC and 55. A3 is for bakery and some industrial work and can't really remember. A2 and A1 is basically the hardcore ones from CP. The blue collar and red collar ones. Means? Blue collar is PD. Preventive detention means no remission. 10 or 20 years means they have to sit it straight out. Red collar are those with more than 20years sentence like the SIA cheating case guy.

Condemn prisoners are also in cluster A. Can't really remember which division and hu is from which old prison as I was out for more than 6 years.

As for shaving of armpit and pubic hair is because of hygiene. All disposable shavers have a 2 week shelf life. All are labelled with the inmate number and stored into a box like a key press. That is why no shaving is allowed.

I had stints in A3 during transfer from old CP as part of the first kitchen crew needed to start up the new kitchen from the old CP. Then to A4 when the rest of the CP shifted in. Then to A5 as part of the staff cafe inmate serving the staff. As for my long story I'll prob meet TS and let him write my story.

Cheers.

Thanks brother for your info, will include the info in my next coming chapter.

I am looking forward to meet you soon

[Gara]

Chapter 3.3: The Security Company Manager

Dear readers, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your comments, regards and feedbacks through forums, emails, pm and fackbook since beginning. Recommended by readers, I had now posted my story in forums lke VR-Zone, SgForums, Flowerpod, Sammyboy, Hardware Zone, Omy, Stomp and SGClub (Do let me know if I have missout any good forums). I never expected my thread responese to be so over-whemling. I had received different comments, encouragement, moral support, feedbacks and had befriended with readers and ex-convicts. Deep in my heart now, I would really like to share this moment of joy with all of you. Without you, I will never have the confidence to continue my story and my doings till this far!

Recently I have receive a reply thread from one of the forum, sharing his personal experience, which I thought it is very meaningful to share with everyone now:

" Hey bro looking at your thread made me want to step forward and share my experience. Not exactly mine but my dad. After reading your thread it made me recall those scenario when i attended court to attend my dad sentence.

Moments like watching my dad being handcuffed saddens me a lot and the last hug i had when my dad's lawyer asked for a stand off to decide if he wanted to


1st : Appeal for his sentence which would be delayed for about 2-3months.

2nd : To serve his sentence immediately

3rd : To serve his sentence 1 week later


My dad chose the 2nd option as his lawyer told him it was the best/ideal choice as the faster he get over with it, he can start a new life earlier rather than appealing and delay the process cause my dad was definitely bound to serve and appealing would only have a 50/50 percent chance.

3rd option was definitely a NO as during that 1 week, you will definitely be unable to sleep etc.


My dad was sentenced to cluster B as well, white collar on the 2nd of June if i didnt remember wrongly. In case some bro are curious what offence my dad actually made, please allow me to elaborate.


My dad runs his own business and in order to be favored, under table give the project manager $ in return of multi-million dollar project and ship repair etc. Though its inevitable in this industry, unfortunately my dad didnt do his paper work properly. Besides, he has a low level of education and was once a taxi driver and worked his ass off to achieve all that this family have currently. His ex-worker who is a burmese ( Operational Manager ) actually quarreled with him and infront of all the staff and challenged my dad to fire him if he wasn't happy with him. Thus my dad terminated him and he went to complain to MOM that when he was working for my dads company, safety measures were not implemented. In the end MOM drop the issue as they visited my dad company and realize everything was up to standard.


So my dad itchy backside also go counter sue him back till that guy bankcrupt and demanded an apology on newspaper. End up that guy bui song go report to CPIB saying my dad under table give $.


The investigation went on for 2 years and in June 2011 was sentenced to 14weeks of imprisonment. My dad was damn devastated upon hearing the verdict as he was expecting 8-10weeks. There was a moment of hesitation in him but he wanted to start anew asap. Thankfully, he served only 5 weeks and went through a course in the jail and was permitted home detention.


He only served 9weeks+ as there is always a 33.33% discount from the final verdict. Means if judge send you to 3 years, you only serve 2 years. Plus 1 month only can visit 2 times. 1st time tele-visit ( webcam ) and 2nd time face to face at Changi prison. Webcam have to go geylang 1 of the police station.


This experienced i went through will always stay with my heart as it made me treasure my father more. The atmosphere at the court was damn solemn and i cried non-stop. The first few days was damn tough for me. But it made me strong and a better person.


Anyway bro, after reading your story maybe by chance my dad know you. Hehe!"

So, how do you think of it and what's in your mind after reading his story?

I would like to share with you readers about this reply thread from one of the forum which I find it very interesting as well:

"moi think gotch a chance inmate ish created by CPC to help building publicity and understanding about Prisons in SG.


the idea ish to use a "First person" narration to deliver this message... in other words, an online storyteller about certain amount of facts mixed with some "fiction" to deliver some message.


Nevertheless, it's a good approach."

Human's mind are just creative!

Well, let's stop making any guess now. I am just another offender whom had just went through the tough life in prison and I am not assisting any organization to deliver any message


In the first day of my lock-up in B4, Cellroom 629, we are not entitled any activities as it's coming to lunch hours once everything are settled down. We were briefed that our 1 hour 'yard' (exercise) falls on every monday, wednesday and thursday while 1 hour 'our dayroom' (watching TV, playing chess, read newspapers) falls on every tuesday, friday and saturday. And sunday will be our 'toilet' cleaning day!


Thoughout our lock-up in the first day, we mainly spend our sharing stories with each other. There is this room mate whom had gave me a very deep impression on the first day. He is the one whom appears to be the 'leader' in our cell room and sharing stories most throughout the day. A well-mannered, outgoing gentlemen whom gained my respect.


So, what's his offence? Well his case did published on news papers . I done a search through the net and manage to find it:

Ex-security company manager jailed for cheating
By Shaffiq Alkhatib Posted: 19 July 2011


SINGAPORE: For two and a half years, a former operations manager of a security company cheated his then-employer into paying salary to his wife for work she did not perform.


Michael Loh Eng Choong, 46, also duped King's Security and Safety Management into making Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions to his wife, Madam Lai Lian Joon, within the same period.


Loh committed the offence between January 2006 and June 2008.

In all, the firm was deceived into making 27 salary payments, totalling S$21,800, into Madam Lai's bank account.


It also made the same number of employer contributions, totalling S$2,981, to her CPF account.


The court heard that Madam Lai was Loh's colleague in the company, where she worked as a part-time night shift security guard.


But Loh falsely reported that she also worked for the firm during the day even though she had a day job elsewhere.


Deputy public prosecutor Kwek Chin Yong said that as a result, King's Security paid Madam Lai for work she did not perform.


Defence counsel Kertar Singh told the court in his mitigation plea that his client did not benefit much from the offence as the payments were made to his wife.


He told district judge Jasbendar Kaur that Loh had also made full restitution and even sold his matrimonial home to do so.


Madam Lai and their children are now staying with her sister as Loh is now homeless, said Mr Singh.


The district court sentenced Loh to four weeks' jail on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to 10 cheating charges.


Another 44 similar charges were also taken into consideration during sentencing.


- CNA/ck

Message for Micheal: Hi brother, if you happen to read this now, you should already know by now I am 5613. All the best to you and hope you can settle your case soon. See you on 1212!

Dear readers, what's in your mind after reading this article above? What's your first impression of him? Do you think there may be more unknown causes behind this case?


Chapter 3.4: About My Past (To Be Continued)