My life experience in Changi Prison (Cluster B)

[Gara]

Originally Posted by Shape

Wa lau! Eat bread only?

Yap, that's for the first dae only... So make sure you eat whatever you like and drink most. Missout a point: Smokers better don bring any crigettes, they will just discard it away when you surrender your belongings.

[Gara]

Originally Posted by yeehaa

i am so subscribing to this thread,

Bro Gara, thank you so much for sharing. Bro, would really like to know what crime you have committed la..

CBT (Criminal Beach Of Trust).. Section 408

[Gara]

Originally Posted by joew2005

alot of ppl will think twice b4 committing an offence, aft knowing these procedures aft the final sentence is read.
the sentence read out by the judge is only a few mins @ most, but the whole waiting process b4 going 2 CPC will realli be scary 2 alot.
not 4getting the experience in the CPC.

Yes its scary and those waiting time is feel like years thoughtout just a few hours. But frankly speaking, its not as scary as we think. Its just we have heard too many tales about all these stuffs. Going in CPC may not be bad, as its actually a turning point/ wakeup call to the offenders. I will reveal more on it soon..

[Gara]

In-process at CPC (Changi Prison Complex)

The journey from sub court to CPC is like hours had past.. We can only sat down in orderly manner in the vehicle with both our hands and legs being cruffed. Although the air-con are on all the while, I still feel hot and stuffy throughout the journey. Throughout the long journey, some chat with each other, some closing their eyes, some looking in depress and regret while some seems like nothing happen.. For me, i sat down quietly observing around with my eyes opened and closed to relax my mind once awhile. I am not scared nor nervous at that moment. In my mind only keep wandering wats coming next and whats my beloved family members doing now..Have they eaten? Can they sleep in the nite without seeing me with them at home? Y am I hurting them so much? Will everything be the same or worse or better after I am out? Y do they still support me and by my side still the very end even i have commited a crime which have bring shame to them? Is it the end for me? What can i do after i am out? Can i survive in the prison with all these offenders? Whats the meaning of living in this world? How and y I end up in these status which I always thought its impossible in my whole life? There are just too many ?????????????? in my mind!


Finally we reach our destination (CPC)... We alight at the basement carkpark (I assume as throughout the journey, i cant get to see the outside world) and were being escorted by few officers and their petrol dogs to a in-process location. Our handcruff and leg cruff were removed by then but was made to wear a blue-colour waist band with our inmate ID number printed on it. Throughout our in-process, we were made to stripe naked to check if theres any hidden items with us, height/ weight check, change our clothes ( We are to wear white t-shirts, blue shorts, transport jelly slipper), photo taking, double check our surrendered belongings... We were then escorted to next level after done (we are to walk in line of twos and with our hands at our back).

After reach the next level, we are to stripe naked again for checking by another take-over officer... After done, we came to a location where we collect our prison items. Each of us were issue with 1 big plasic box, 1 drinking plastic mug with cover, 1 round plasic basin with cover, 1 special-made tooth brush, 1 toothpaste (gel type), 1 roll of toilet paper, 1 plastc spoon (those plastc spoon when we pack takeaway food), 1 small towel, 1 straw mat and 2 gray blanket!

With our items, we were then escorted to Cluster B2 (For new intake and remands - Inmates claimed Cluster B2 is former Queenstown remand prison). At B2, we were then issued with 6pcs of breads (apply with jam) before we enter our cell room.

Cellroom at B2 can contain max. 4 inmates (Prisoners are addressed as 'inmates'). Every cellroom are attached with 1 opened toilet and shower tap, Room size about 120 sqf. No fans nor aircon and only small tiny holes through the wall that only enable you to c notthing else but only to c whether its day or nite time.

I enter my cellroom and i closed the blue solid metalic door after I step in. In my room there are other 3 chinese inmates (1 in mid 20s, another mid 30s, and last early 40s)... Settling down and puting their items on floor then takeoff their shirt as its hot and stuffy, I can c different types of tatoos on all over the 3 inmates body! No communication were made and only eye contacts made between the 4 of us throughout settling down. Suddenly, 1 of them start to speak............................................. ............

----------To be Continued--------------------------------

[QuackPangAik]

Salute you for taking all these in your chin ....

will be camping here ...

[joew2005]

frankly speaking,if given a choice how many ppl would 1 2 go in CPC 2 get tat turning point or wakeup call ??

[Gara]

Originally Posted by joew2005

frankly speaking,if given a choice how many ppl would 1 2 go in CPC 2 get tat turning point or wakeup call ??

Honestly for me, i am reali glad i actually went in although its very shameful and not very positive. But that is the only place which provide me all the answers that i have been searching for the past 10 years.

But still... brothers here pls don be so stupid till purposely commit crime to get in there to get answers!

[alvin36]

Originally Posted by Gara

Yap, that's for the first dae only... So make sure you eat whatever you like and drink most. Missout a point: Smokers better don bring any crigettes, they will just discard it away when you surrender your belongings.

Bro Gara... nice thread, hope everything works out fine for you now.

Also, allow me to add a few points.

there is no shower for inmate on the 1st day, right ?

For those who are facing court case and expecting to go CPC soon.... do not be too afraid. Just follow the rules....

do not commit any crimes inside prison.
do not get into fight
do not smoke if other cell mate managed to smuggle ciggarettes into prison
respect each other in the cell. do not be afraid of those with tatoos.

those with tatoos are usually not 1st timer. they are the ones who "knows how to sit" in jail. usually, they are very considerate and corporative.

sometimes, those 1st timer are the in-considerate ones inside the small cell

[Gara]

Basic rules & Information on Singapore's prison conditions (CPC)

Before i continue my further encounters, information below covers up some of the important point on what & how inmates can/ cannot do and what inmates must get prepared to face.

CPC (Cluster A &B ), the prison that houses almost all the inmates in Singapore, the inmates sleep on hard concrete floor with no proper beds. Inmates are only given a very thin straw mat.

Inmates are locked in a small cell 22- 23 hours a day. Inmates get no outdoor exercises, all their exercises are conducted indoor. Imnates don't get open air for the duration of their sentence.

There are no fans or air conditioning in the cell rooms.

Inmates are not allowed any personal possessions, like radio, tv, personal clothings etc. They are not even allowed to keep a pen and paper with them.

The inmates basically are allowed zero personal belongings except 3 softcover books. Hardcover books are not allowed as hardcover books are deemed to be highly dangerous. Imagine it could turn into a highly lethal weapon should it fall into the wrong hands.

Telephones are not allowed and inmates can only write 1 or 2 letters every fortnight.

Inmates are not allowed to keep photographs of their family. Inmates require special permission from their SOP should inmates wish to do so.

Inmates' heads are shoven and they have to behave like soldiers. Inmates must greet the all officers when inmates see them. Inmates must walk in one single file (Not like inmates walk around much given how claustophic the entire place is. The prison is a tall multi story block and the work locations often just in the vincinity of their cells. Everything is indoors.) and keep their hands at their back when talking to officers, failing which inmates are liable to get punished.

I have just created a fb page regarding prison life and have upload some interesting pictures and info on it. Feel free to visit: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Singapore-Prison-Stories/141381825948530

[Gara]

Originally Posted by alvin36

Bro Gara... nice thread, hope everything works out fine for you now.

Also, allow me to add a few points.

there is no shower for inmate on the 1st day, right ?

For those who are facing court case and expecting to go CPC soon.... do not be too afraid. Just follow the rules....

do not commit any crimes inside prison.
do not get into fight
do not smoke if other cell mate managed to smuggle ciggarettes into prison
respect each other in the cell. do not be afraid of those with tatoos.

those with tatoos are usually not 1st timer. they are the ones who "knows how to sit" in jail. usually, they are very considerate and corporative.

sometimes, those 1st timer are the in-considerate ones inside the small cell

Thanks for the add-on.

[69ASIMO69]

Bro... Quite slow leh..... Camping anxiously

[Toyota Honda]

I agree with bro Gara about the part mentoining about the hurt caused to the family members who supported them towards the end.

It brought back memories of how my mum, siblings and myself were crying n the court while the lawyer were reading the litigation documents to the judge few months back when my dad was cught for gambling crimes.

Kudos to Bro Gara for writing the whole experience to enlighten sammyboy forummers.

[Gara]

Originally Posted by Toyota Honda

I agree with bro Gara about the part mentoining about the hurt caused to the family members who supported them towards the end.

It brought back memories of how my mum, siblings and myself were crying n the court while the lawyer were reading the litigation documents to the judge few months back when my dad was cught for gambling crimes.

Kudos to Bro Gara for writing the whole experience to enlighten sammyboy forummers.

You are welcome. But I do know that there are numbers of brothers here did went in before as well. Just hope whatever i write in this thread will not offend or hurt you guys by bringing back your past memories again.

[delix02]

Camping here... Thks for sharing.

[joncheong]

hi ts and dear sammybros....regarding women prison...as i have an ex and currently fb going in soon next week if her appeal fails for about 2 months....i relayed to her this thread and she is rather relieved that prison life is not as horrible as she watch in hk shows ..... but she have a few concerns and she is rather frightened that do women convicted in court also need to have their legs shackled as they are brought to prison? are they allowed to shave their armpits in prison and do they wear bras and underwear in prison ? and will their hair be cut prison style which is ear length? hopefully somebody can help me advise