My life experience in Changi Prison (Cluster B)

[Gara]

Originally Posted by chanda

sometimes i lock up in my bedroom, after a few hours, i feel horrible. Like heavy head want to explode. Stuffy. No fresh air. Eye blurry. Once i go shopping centre, symptom will be gone.

At home, i keep myself busy with laptop, TV, songs, movies, story books, food, drinks, i dunno how you spent the days in e cell. That's very bad.

Is e cell stuffy? Windy? If nobody talks, wat do u all do? Any drinking water in e cell or drink from tap?

There are times that the cellroom gets warm.

We will sleep, look at walls if there are not chat.

We drink water from tap.

[Gara]

Chapter 3.6: Criminal Breach Of Trust

Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT) is one of the most common crimes in Singapore. So what exactly is CBT and what are the punishments for the offenders:

Whoever, being in any manner entrusted with property, or with any dominion over property, dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his own use that property, or dishonestly uses or disposes of that property in violation of any direction of law prescribing the mode in which such trust is to be discharged, or of any legal contract, express or implied, which he has made touching the discharge of such trust, or wilfully suffers any other person to do so, commits Criminal Breach Of Trust (CBT)



Illustration


(a) A, being executor to the will of a deceased person, dishonestly disobeys the law which directs him to divide the effects according to the will, and appropriates them to his own use. A has committed criminal breach of trust.

(b) A is a warehouse-keeper. Z, going on a journey, entrusts his furniture to A, under a contract that it shall be returned on payment of a stipulated sum for warehouse room. A dishonestly sells the goods. A has committed breach of trust.

(c) A, residing in Singapore, is agent for Z, residing in Penang. There is an express or implied contract between A and Z that all sums remitted by Z to A shall be invested by A according to Z’s direction. Z remits $5,000 to A, with directions to A to invest the same in Government securities. A dishonestly disobeys the direction, and employs the money in his own business. A has committed criminal breach of trust.

(d) But if A, in the last illustration, not dishonestly, but in good faith, believing that it will be more for Z’s advantage to hold shares in the Bank X, disobeys Z’s directions, and buys shares in the Bank X for Z, instead of buying Government securities, here, though Z should suffer loss and should be entitled to bring a civil action against A on account of that loss, yet A, not having acted dishonestly, has not committed criminal breach of trust.

(e) A, a collector of Government money, or a clerk in a Government office, is entrusted with public money, and is either directed by law, or bound by a contract, express or implied, with the Government, to pay into a certain treasury all the public money which he holds. A dishonestly appropriates the money. A has committed criminal breach of trust.

(f) A, a carrier, is entrusted by Z with property to be carried by land or by water. A dishonestly misappropriates the property. A has committed criminal breach of trust.


Punishment of Criminal Breach Of Trust

406. Whoever commits criminal breach of trust shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, or with fine, or with both.
Criminal breach of trust by carrier, etc.


407. Whoever, being entrusted with property as a carrier, wharfinger or warehouse-keeper, commits criminal breach of trust in respect of such property, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 15 years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant.


408. Whoever, being a clerk or servant, or employed as a clerk or servant, and being in any manner entrusted in such capacity with property, or with any dominion over property, commits criminal breach of trust in respect of that property, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 15 years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant, or agent.


409. Whoever, being in any manner entrusted with property, or with any dominion over property, in his capacity of a public servant, or in the way of his business as a banker, merchant, factor, broker, attorney or agent, commits criminal breach of trust in respect of that property, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 20 years, and shall also be liable to fine.

I was charged under section 408 and there were another 2 roommates of mine in B4 who had commit CBT as well:

6xx1 is a 26 years old Chinese guy who worked as a accountant in a shipping firm. He earned about $1600 per month, was divorced with his wife and had a 5 years old daughter under the care of him. Due to his addiction of gambling of illegal soccer betting, his monthly salary was never enough to pay for his loses. Till one day, he got no chance but to loan from licensed money lenders and loan sharks to settle his debts. He ended up in deeper debts due to the high interest rates of both money lenders and loan sharks. Feeling lost and unable to undertake the mental stress, he choose to settle his debts using company funds. He turned himself shortly after he commit the crime.

Just like me, gambling had ruined 6xx1’s life. I hope he had learn his lesson and take care her daughter well after his release from CPC.

6xx3, age about mid 30s, is a soft spoken decent guy. He was requested by his ‘sworn’ brother to act as guarantor for loans. He agreed due to their years of friendship and his trust to him. 6xx3 never expected his ‘sworn’ brother went missing shortly after he got the loans. Betrayal by his ‘sworn’ brother caused him in debts. Weeks of feeling regretted, anger, depress and stress that caused him to settle the debts using the company funds secretly.

He somehow managed to repay back the funds he stole from the company without being caught in weeks later. Thinking nothing will happened to him. Till the day of company’s internal audit check, his doing was found out by the auditor and he was reported to the police by the company thereafter.

A advice for readers: Friends may be important, but be careful in how you help them. Sometimes even your nearest one will be the one hurting you most and destroy your life.

You can still be charged for CBT even if you had returned the sum of money which you had took from your employer for personal uses.

I received a email from a reader recently and here’s what he wrote:

“Hi Bro

I have a wife and 2 sons which are still very young. 3.5yrs old and 1.5 yrs old. I am currently working ok with a ok salary.

I have been to the casino also hoping to win some money to make ends meet.
I did not lose much and got worried when I lose coz I have kids to feed and pampers to buy. I end up borrowing from legal money lenders to make ends meet again and currently trying to stay afloat. I hope I can clear them all by this month end.

My wife doesn’t know about this lending though and I know she will be very angry if she got to know about me borrowing monies.

There are days before I get my salary I buy a loft of bread and kaya and have them as my meal for a few days. When she ask if I have eaten, I always say yes. I try to think that I am just fasting…. Sigh…

Bro, sorry to brood to you my story too. Just wanted to talk to someone who been to hell and back. Your story have encouraged me somewhat and made me more aware not to do anything illegal just to fulfill my needs. There are times when I am so tempted to do so. But thinking of my sons and my wife, I refrain. My only worry now is my credit cards debts which I have not been able to pay for a long time… there are suicidal times as well for me but only reason why i am alive is becoz of my 2 sons.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your story. I hope to be able to make things right again.”

From what he wrote, I am happy that my story did actually encouraged him and had prevented him from committing a crime.

Advice: Please spare a thought for your loved ones before you intend to commit a crime!

Chapter 4: 'Yard' Time
----To Be Continued---

[lmao68]

Hi Bro GARA,

Its really very insightful to learn so much things from you. This is a very good way of sharing experiences which will definitely help fellow bros here

.

[multiverse]

Originally Posted by HokkienPeng

Sorry missed your question. Yes, all inmates will be given their estimated release date when processed on the first day at cluster A. So if any offence, just add on to the date.

Tell him what ever happens, lun lor.

thanks a lot for the reply!

[joew2005]

Originally Posted by Gara

actually i have met inmates commit crimes just for leisure and shiok! think i will share in coming chapters.

not surprise tat such ppl exist on tis planet ..... see wat happened in norway earlier.

[joncheong]

i totally understand how it feels to see someone you care about being led away in handcuff for the sentence.... was in court last week for my ex gf case (we are still friends) and after her appeal failed...she was immediately handcuffed and led away...even though it's only for 4 weeks...could still feel the pain she experienced as she sobbed uncontrollably.. it's due to a traffic offence...hope that it does not affect her future as she is still very young ...

[SgHornyDevil]

Originally Posted by joncheong

she sobbed uncontrollably.. it's due to a traffic offence...hope that it does not affect her future as she is still very young ...

How come simple traffic offence also kena jail ?

Pay fine can oredi, right ?

[chanda]

Deleted. Deleted.

[alvin36]

Originally Posted by SgHornyDevil

How come simple traffic offence also kena jail ?

Pay fine can oredi, right ?

for drink-driving, I think 1st offence is fine... if 2nd offence, very high chance to go jail, also depending on the alcohol level

[joncheong]

Originally Posted by alvin36

for drink-driving, I think 1st offence is fine... if 2nd offence, very high chance to go jail, also depending on the alcohol level

will it have record that affects her future employment chances?

[eldewiss]

i empatise with you....but am glad u have learn your lesson!

all the best to your future!

[Ah Tong]

Gara Bro,

All the best on your exit from prison! Anyway, the most important is to remember where you have gone wrong, and not repeat the mistakes again. Money can always be earned again, just be patient.
The following are some advice for you bro
1) Don't ever step into MBS or RWS again. Stop the gambling habit, or call 1800-6668668 for the National Council on Problem Gambling to exclude yourself from the casino.
2) Be patient bro, I believe many bros have also been in a similar position as you. Do not give up, and cherish the ones around you. There will always be a road out. I know because I have also been in very deep shit before.
Take care bro.

[Gara]

Originally Posted by joncheong

i totally understand how it feels to see someone you care about being led away in handcuff for the sentence.... was in court last week for my ex gf case (we are still friends) and after her appeal failed...she was immediately handcuffed and led away...even though it's only for 4 weeks...could still feel the pain she experienced as she sobbed uncontrollably.. it's due to a traffic offence...hope that it does not affect her future as she is still very young ...

There should be a 8 days discount and about 5days program for her sentence. Bro, do me a favour.. Would like to know about the life in women prison and share with the readers. Can contact me after she's out? Thanks

[Gara]

Originally Posted by Ah Tong

Gara Bro,

All the best on your exit from prison! Anyway, the most important is to remember where you have gone wrong, and not repeat the mistakes again. Money can always be earned again, just be patient.
The following are some advice for you bro
1) Don't ever step into MBS or RWS again. Stop the gambling habit, or call 1800-6668668 for the National Council on Problem Gambling to exclude yourself from the casino.
2) Be patient bro, I believe many bros have also been in a similar position as you. Do not give up, and cherish the ones around you. There will always be a road out. I know because I have also been in very deep shit before.
Take care bro.

Thank you bro..I had already banned myself from the casinos after that incident.

Although I am still struggling now in my life, I am more confident and positive in what I am facing and the things I wan to do!

[Gara]

Click here to view interesting video clips about prison's life around the world.

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