My life experience in Changi Prison (Cluster B)

[joncheong]

Originally Posted by sennheiser

that's very good news.. =)

i will start a new thread if time permits on the experience we had during the trip which was supposed to let hr forget about everything else....we sort of rekindled the old flame between us....

let's not hijack this thread belonging to brother gara =) cheers

[ChinKooi]

Will the Home Detention usually be inmates homes ?

[ChinKooi]

Today's New Paper reported that ex-Sembawang goalkeeper said that he is nearly raped in Singapore prison. Is that true ?

I thought Prison in Spore very strict ? How can one commit rape in prison when even masturbating is a serious offence ?

Thanks

[newyorker88]

Bro Gara,

What happened in the past, let it be. No point harbouring about what happened in the past. It is over already, you still got today, and tomorrow is still unknow.

I am glad you gotten a short stay in Changi. Your lessons are very valuable to many youngsters or would be gamblers and offenders. Kudos to you.

Find and stick to whatever work you gotten, no bad times last forever, and no good times are with you all the time. I am also happy to know that your wife is willing to stick with you all the time, even it is about 1 month that you are away. Respect her and be with her all the time, until death do both of you part. Only thru hard times, will a couple know how much they owe to each other.

I never been into Changi, and could have gotten in during my younger days if I had not been restrained by good friends and family for doing rash actions. Still, it is very heartening to read about your doings.

Treasure your freedom and never repeat the same offence again.

good luck.

[ChinKooi]

Bro Gara, boh lat liao

[HokkienPeng]

Originally Posted by ChinKooi

Bro Gara, boh lat liao

It's not no strength. Rather it's the real world of earning enough to survive to pay off bills ad debts that make us busy.

I do have a lot of stories but it's the work that's taking time away from writing. It's not easy to pen down stuff that happened a few months or few years ago.

[Gara]

Originally Posted by HokkienPeng

It's not no strength. Rather it's the real world of earning enough to survive to pay off bills ad debts that make us busy.

I do have a lot of stories but it's the work that's taking time away from writing. It's not easy to pen down stuff that happened a few months or few years ago.

Bro.. thanks for answering that for me

[Gara]

Chapter 6.1: B4/ HU1/ Room 208

Soon the cellroom door opened and my name was being called by the cookie. I do not know where I am transfering. I farewell to my roommates and exchange contacts before I step out from my cell room.

While assumble outside of dayroom 3, I can see there are others about 20 inmates including from other dayrooms beside me. We were being briefed to bring along our belongings and we will be transfer to HU1 ( HU1 consists of level 1 and 2 in B4) We were later being escort to the level 1 ( HU1) by a prison officer.

Another prison officer from level 1 took over and we were escorted to Dayroom 1 in HU1. The cookies and the prison officers from there carefully inspect our belongings. Then a briefing and orientation about HU1 house rules and regulations was conducted by a prison officer.

Most rules remain the same but somehow to me, HU1 tends to be much stricter. The only difference is our yardtime and dayroom activities are 2 hours.

We headed directly to our assigned cellroom after the briefing. Together with me, there are other 3 inmates from HU3 heading to the same cell room, 208.

I was nervous, I don’t know what type of my new roommates will be and what is coming in this new envoirment. The cellroom door open and I can see there are another 4 inmates inside. It seems that I am the youngest among all.

Remain calm and quiet, I put my belonging on the assigned area told by one of the inmate from the room. After I settle down, I self-introduce myself and ask the roommates about their own house rules.

After spending some time talking and listening to their conversation, I found out that the reason on why I have been transferred to HU1. HU1 is normally the last station for inmates who are releasing soon.

One more interesting thing I was being told; Room 209 and 210 which were just next to our cellroom, those inmates being locked up in the 2 cell rooms are the ones which we have alsobeen warned by the prison officers not to get near and communicate with anyone of them. Being caught by the officers will be punished. At first I thought those inmates are the ‘GRADE A’ prisoners (commit serious offences and was isolated) but I was wrong, they were somehow special than us…


For respect, we do not address them as ‘brothers’, instead we address them as ‘Sisters’................



Chapter 6.2: Sisters

To Be continued

[Gara]

Chapter 6.2: Sisters

The orientation briefed by the police officer at HU1 was very clear and straight forward. All inmates are to obey and follow their house rules and we will be safe from punishment. There is another additional rule which we are to obey strictly. We are not supposed to have any communication with ‘Captain Mike’ at all times who are being locked up in Room 209/ 210 of HU1.

Wondering who are ‘Captain Mike’, I asked my new roommates in my cell room 208…

We address these ‘Captain Mike’ as ‘Sisters’. These are the inmates who are half transsexual. Most of them are Malays. They are the LT inmates in Cluster B who are all gathered and isolated together in room 209/ 210. Their hairs are the same length as any of us. These sisters are not allowed to communicate nor have their activities together with other inmates (us) at all times. They are being locked up in their cell room while we go out for ‘yard’ activity. They are the ones who can only stay at level 2 during ‘Dayroom’ activity while the rest of us will be gathered at level 1. They are the inmates who go out for work during daytime and only be back to their cell room in the night time. They are the ones who are allowed to wear an additional inner cloth together with the inmate’s shirt.

During lights off in the night, these sisters sound so cheerful, chatting and singing loudly while we are sleeping.

What crimes have they committed?

What do they work as while serving their sentences?

Where is their working location?

No inmates know… But one thing for sure is that these ‘sisters’ are treated with respect and equally by the prison officers.



Chapter 6.3: Reporting Sick
To Be Continued

[michael_368]

Thanks for your update bro.

[HokkienPeng]

Sisters are transexual or transvestites. But more on like have breasts and a dick. Their crimes are like normal people ranging from drugs, stealing etc. Poor thing actually. While the rest can watch tv etc, they have to be from a distance.

Old CP also got and I think they were at block b or something. Forget already. Even some that are known ad gay will be separated from the rest of the population.

[CurryMonster]

Hi bro, thanks for sharing this details. next month one of my colleague going in soon... he gonna be fines abt $30 K.
Anyone know how long will he need to Sit if he didnt pay the fine?

[qwerty78]

Originally Posted by CPVictim

Dear Bro Gara and rest,

I read your posting and wanted to write to you for some issue to discuss.

I want to know how stiff a sentence I'll get and how can I reduce it?

I picked up a vietnamese girl from a pub in Joo Chiat and proceed to have sex with her. Once inside the room in Geylang, she asked me for money first to which I did not agree. Our deal was cancelled and we went downstairs. A while later she was nabbed by police. I had no information about the girl and I thought she has probably been sent back to Vietnam.

A few days back I got a call from an officer in Cantonment and was asked to give a statement. I told him all the info and did not lie at all.

Need your guidance if you can help.

nothing will happen to you.....

[Gara]

Originally Posted by CurryMonster

Hi bro, thanks for sharing this details. next month one of my colleague going in soon... he gonna be fines abt $30 K.
Anyone know how long will he need to Sit if he didnt pay the fine?

Bro, that have to depends on his fines of offences... From what I know, sentences will be longer for not paying the fine are on loansharks and MOM charges..

[Gara]

Chapter 6.3: Reporting Sick

Information: Primary health care for inmates is currently provided by qualified doctors and medical staff from a professional medical service provider. All newly-admitted inmates shall be seen by a doctor. They should inform the doctor of any pre-existing illness and any medication they were taking prior to their admission. All inmates are given adequate medical care during their incarceration

After being locked up in CPC for days, I thought it will be a good chance for me to quit smoking which I have tried a number of attempts before. I can only admit that my will was not strong enough before.

For the first two days in CPC, feeling helpless, stress and all types of negative emotions, I was miserable for the first few days without smoking. But as time passed living in a smoke-free environment, I have overcome this miserable feeling and had slowly get used to the healthy lifestyle once again. I am not alone, many others have quit their smoking habits after their release.

Till one fine day my throat feels dry and hurt whenever I swallow my saliva. I have proper meals, enough sleep and not smoke throughout my days in CPC so I do not know the reason what causes my throat to hurt. Is it due to sudden stop of smoking? Is it due the warm temperature in cell room? Or is it due to the consuming of tap water from the cell room?

I have been told that once I reported sick, I’ll have to stay in my cell room at all times for the next three days without activities. My normal food menu may change and I may even get isolated if my body temperature runs high. Knowing all the consequences, I am prepared to report sick as I know myself that my sickness will worsen if I choose not to do anything about it.

The cookie will normally went around the cell rooms to check if any inmates want to report sick and see to the doctor on the next following day. I waited for his arrival and registered my name.

< The Next Day> I was being called up after muster check in the morning. Together with other inmates from all dayrooms who have reported sick, we were escorted to the sick bay area within the same building.

Upon reaching the destination, walking past the lock-up rooms located inside the sick bay, I can see through clearly what the inmates in those lock-up rooms are doing as it was not blocked by the normal blue color cell room’s door but are piles of iron bars. There were beds in those lock-up rooms, there are inmates being handcruff to the bed. Some are lying on the beds, facing directly the the bright lights from the ceiling while others hide themselves under the beds…

Throughout the whole process was quite fast and the doctor are from Raffles Medical Group. Medicine was issued for my sickness and the timing for consuming the medicine are standard in CPC which will be half hour before our meals.

Information: Notice for time to eat medicine: ‘Jia York’

On the way back after we are done, inmates who are running high fever were ordered to pack their belongings and they will be isolated together in a individual cell room.

Throughout this experience, I have seen and met inmates who have purposely committed crimes for the sake of the free medical care in CPC which they couldn’t afford in the outside world. Some reported sick hoping to use this excuse to enlighten their sentences and others claim to be sick (which they are not) for various reasons.

I would advice to anyone who will be going in to CPC soon that it will be a wise choice for you not to report sick unnecessary. As mentioned by most of the ex-convicts, one of the biggest nightmare in CPC is when you got sick. Take very good care of your health in CPC and pray for yourself not to get any serious sickness throughout your lockup. It is also a wise choice for you not to report sick if you are totally not sick.





Chapter 6.4: Drugs
To Be Continued