My life experience in Changi Prison (Cluster B)

[Inmate]

Great thread. Must be a very sobering experience in there. What do they actually do during the "muster check"

Head count.. Whenever the officers come, we must also greet '' Good morning/ afternoon/ evening, sir/mdm, Thank you sir/mdm!

 

[Inmate]

bro...some questions:

1) where u shower? Inside the cell? U mean water is free flow?
2) how about peeing n shit? U can flush from the cell? Got rule that lao jiao will shit first or something like that?
3) the reason to clean the floor is to: pass time? So the cell is always with soap smell?
4) there is no letting out of cell for relac? I have seen some photos of Sinkie prison where inmates play basketball or carom...so its no longer now?

Sorry bro for the questions...

1.) We shower in our cellroom
2.) We pee and shit in cellroom, must flush after use. We take turns to do it.. For respect, we will always let the oldest first!
3.) We clean for us to sleep on the floor more comfortable
4.) Yes we have activites.. Will cover up that later.

 

[Muthukali]

Like old skool, they asked u what no. u played?

 

[red amoeba]

bro..u mean there are female PO (prison officers) there? Thot they are all sent to Woman's Prison?

 

[zeddy]

Anyone remembered the death of a Malay inmate way back in the mid 90s.. He was bashed up by a Senior Prison officer and 2 Junior officers inside his cell during the night.. The 3 Prison staff were all Malays too.. Happened at the Old Queenstown Prison.. The morning shift team found the Malay guy sleeping during the daily muster check.. They thought that he was still sleeping... Tried shouting at him but no avail..Unlocked his cell and they found him in coma and with bruises on his body... Called the prison medical officer but the chap had already died.. Prison authorities made an urgent investigation and summoned witnesses.. These witnesses are all inmates who heard the shouting and the cries of the dead prisoner when he was walloped by his assailants.. Think the 3 Prison staff were all sentenced of manslaughter charges... The case was mentioned in the papers back then and it was comfirmed to me by my old neighbour who was then working as a male Nurse in the Prison service..

 

[Inmate]

Anyone remembered the death of a Malay inmate way back in the mid 90s.. He was bashed up by a Senior Prison officer and 2 Junior officers inside his cell during the night.. The 3 Prison staff were all Malays too.. Happened at the Old Queenstown Prison.. The morning shift team found the Malay guy sleeping during the daily muster check.. They thought that he was still sleeping... Tried shouting at him but no avail..Unlocked his cell and they found him in coma and with bruises on his body... Called the prison medical officer but the chap had already died.. Prison authorities made an urgent investigation and summoned witnesses.. These witnesses are all inmates who heard the shouting and the cries of the dead prisoner when he was walloped by his assailants.. Think the 3 Prison staff were all sentenced of manslaughter charges... The case was mentioned in the papers back then and it was comfirmed to me by my old neighbour who was then working as a male Nurse in the Prison service..

The law has changed. Officers are not allowed to whack the inmates...

 

[Inmate]

For brothers whom just only want to concentrate reading my thread without interuption.

Click here: http://prisonstories.webs.com/apps/forums/topics/show/5673103-my-life-experience-in-changi-prison-cluster-b-

 

[red amoeba]

For brothers whom just only want to concentrate reading my thread without interuption.

Click here: http://prisonstories.webs.com/apps/forums/topics/show/5673103-my-life-experience-in-changi-prison-cluster-b-

err..bro why must register one de...

 

[Inmate]

Special - Offences commited by my roommates

Readers may be curious on the backgrounds of my three roommates. Below are the information which I am sharing based from what I know from them. I will only reveal whatever I can. I sincerely welcome discussions/ comments on the questions that which have stated below.

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ID: 5XX1
AGE: 26
OFFENCE COMMITED: AH LONG RUNNER (AH LONG = LOAN SHARK)
SENTENCE: 6 MONTHS

BIO: He is a guy with tattoos all over his upper body, a 2nd timer to jail. Married and now have a baby girl age about 10 months. He was caught for assisting loansharks distributing namecards.

Not much to comment on him but I hope he will find his right path back after he’s out. I have a question to share with all readers and I am sure you already have the answer in your mind. But what I really hope is you readers can understand what I am trying to express…

1) Who will be the one end up supporting the expenses and taking over of his wife who is a housewife and his baby girl for these 6 months?

2) Who’s the one suffering the most and is it fair for them?

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


ID: 5XX3
AGE: 40
OFFENCE COMMITED: FIGHTING
SENTENCE: 9 MONTHS

BIO: He is guy with tattoos all over his body till his leg, a 4rd timer to jail. Used to take drugs, rioting, fighting since young. Nothing much to share and comment about his cases and his underworld background. What really interest me to share with you readers is his personal life.

He got a brother and both of his parents are still around. But his only brother (whom he told me every month he make good money on work, but only give and spent for his wife) do not take care and visit their parents for years. Both of his parents are old, one suffering long-term sickness while another hardly walk and move, yet got to go pickup and collect empty cans/ paperbox for survival. 5XX3 is the only one whom have support and take care the parents for years. As he is already a ex-convict since young, he can hardly find any job's salary which is never enough for the three of them to survive.

To some of the readers here may think 5xx3 is a hopeless feak, some may think he never try hard enough to change and walk the right path, some even think so where did he find money and how they managed to survive till now..

After spent time chatting with him learn about his background, I start to think about it myself and trying to find answers..Maybe you readers can think together with me.

1. Do he 'really' have a choice to do what he hope?

2. Who's to blame? Himself or our society that led him this way returning to jail again and again?

3. Even with the help of SCORE and yellow ribbon, can he really get a job’s that is enough for him and his 2 parents to survive?

4. What can he work and will he walk the right path after he is out next year?

5. Can the society really accept him without doubts inspite of his numberous offence’s records and his image appearance (a body full of tattoos) if he wants to change a new life after he's out?

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ID: 5XX5 (3RD TIMER)
AGE: MID 40s
CASE: CHEATING
SENTENCE: 18 MONTHS
BIO: A guy whom never revealed much on himself nor his offence so I got not much to share about him. But hes always the one encouraging and giving advices to us (me and other 2). All I know his ‘BIG’ cheating case to published in papers in mid July 2011.
---------------------------------------------------


I already start to learn and explore alot Throughout the few days with them, Here’s a advice to all readers.

‘Treasure and Learn to live on, always be enough on what you have now.
Never take things for granted or spending all your time on something which will never bring you lifetime happiness.

Anything can happen in life! You may be rich today and be poor tomorrow. You may be poor today and be rich tomorrow. You may be alive today and die suddenly tomorrow. You may be healthy today and end up in hospital tomorrow. In life, anything can happen.. Never assume ‘impossible’ or thinking that ‘It wont happen to me’ or ‘I am not the unlucky one’.

I am a very good example: I used to have a warm beloved family and my own stable decent business that I have spent years on it. Like most of you.. I always told myself that I wont do something stupid and end up in jail. But due to 1 wrong move and human's top weakness <Greed> , I destroy everything myself and nearly lost everything.

I don’t care if some of you may think that there are motives behind me writing all these. Some may think I am just want to gain frame and attention while some may think I really not nothing to do. Some even comment that my sentences is so short only and yet want to influences others. While some are happily enjoying reading my story for fun and entertainment.

Whatever it is, I want to take this chance to thank all readers for spending your time following my thread for the past few days till now. I also sincerely thanks those readers whom have encourage me through email and pm.

Lastly, I want to thank those brothers contacted me whom doesn’t want to reveal themselves and yet want to share their jail experience through me.

It's not the end of my thread yet, more to come on my encounters in CPC throughout the weeks...

------------------------- To Be Continue-----------------------------

 

[Windsor]

The questions you posed cannot be answered as those incarcerated are responsible for their actions. Let me put it in another way. Every adult is responsible to themselves and to those who depend on them. It is all water already flowed across the bridge and now it is too late to regret. The best course of action is to plan for the future and not look back as what had been done cannot be undone.

If you think you and the other inmates are suffering, remember that there are always people worse off. Don't pity yourselves for being where you are or had to go through but take the courage to pick up your lives and start again. You need to be positive for everything is possible if you put your mind to it. Why people like you and your cellmates are where you are, was due probably to character flaws. Everybody has some weaknesses but not to the extent of breaking the law. The sun always shines after the rain. I wish you well and hope you succeed in life.

 

[Inmate]

The questions you posed cannot be answered as those incarcerated are responsible for their actions. Let me put it in another way. Every adult is responsible to themselves and to those who depend on them. It is all water already flowed across the bridge and now it is too late to regret. The best course of action is to plan for the future and not look back as what had been done cannot be undone.

If you think you and the other inmates are suffering, remember that there are always people worse off. Don't pity yourselves for being where you are or had to go through but take the courage to pick up your lives and start again. You need to be positive for everything is possible if you put your mind to it. Why people like you and your cellmates are where you are, was due probably to character flaws. Everybody has some weaknesses but not to the extent of breaking the law. The sun always shines after the rain. I wish you well and hope you succeed in life.

Thank you for writing out your point of view/ advice and share with others

 

[red amoeba]

bro, tks for your postings. I really appreciate you taking the time to do the post and setting up a facebook page.

prison is something that many of us are interested in, don't mind me saying, it some thing that we are curious about what goes on inside, but no one will want to go try it - not if one can help it.

ps continue to post. I am camping here.

 

[Inmate]

My last 2 days of lock-up at Cluster B2

<Arrival of next day> The lights from our ceiling are switch on at 5am and the water supply are on again.

(Note: Water supply are off during mustercheck and lights off 9pm - 5am)

As usual, we wake up and do whatever we need to do.. Mustercheck at 7am, breakfast served after mustercheck, cleaning of floor in our cell room, keep walking around in our cell room . Time pass slowly as expected. Soon after the mustercheck at 9am, there are announcements from the intel system next to our cell door and within minutes, our cell door open suddenly. 'Lets go for a hair cut,' told me by 5XX3. Without asking much, I wear my slipper and follow my room mates out from our cell room.

Finally I can step out of the cellroom that have trapped me for the past 40+ hours. We are not alone.. All other inmates from all cell room in the same storey are out as well. Officers and cookies had already standby outside the cellrooms, gather all of us and ordering us to sit down in rows of five at the open space located just outside our cell room. A head count was done by the cookies and a briefing was then made to us by one of the officer. "We are going to yard area for our hair cut"

Escorted by the officer-in-charge, we head to to the yard area (within the same building) in a single line, with our hands at the back while we are walking. We reach within minutes but before we can enter the yard area, turn by turn, we have to stripe ourself in front of a officer, with our hands on the air, mouth opened wide with our tongue out, make a squat-down and up, then turn our body with our back facing the officer and squat-down and up again before we enter the yard.

Yard is the indoor area where inmates exercise. Unlike what you seen on movies and drama, yard in CPC is indoor with only 1 entrance/exit and fully surronded by solid walls with tiny rectangle holes through the walls. As usual, we can hardly see the outside world through those tiny holes. Now, turn by turn we will get out hair cut done in the yard by the cookies!

Notes: Inmate serving sentence more than 1 month will cut botak (Trimmer No.1)
Inmate serving sentence less than i month will only need to trim short (Trimmer No.3)

After haircut, we got to stripe for checking again before we head back to our cellroom. We were back to our cellroom about 11am (estimated). We shower and get ready for the mustercheck at 12pm. Lunch are served thereafter.
Lunch menu of the day: Fried mee hoon with a full pcs of fishcake)

We were out from our cell room again soon after our lunch. This time we are to head to officer's office for interviews/ declaration and photo-taking of our tatoos/ family & personnal problems faced outside). As usual, we are to stripe ourselves for checking before we can proceed.

Everything's completed and we were back to our cell room about 4+pm. Soon dinner are served to us at 5pm.
Menu: Plain rice, sardin and side veg

Neverless to say, we did everything same again, after dinner, cleaning, then walk around in the cellroom and shower after the 7pm muster check. Lights off at 9pm.

That's how we've spent the whole 2nd day at B2.


<The Next Day>
As usual, we woke up at 5am, mustercheck 7am then breakfast. After the 9am mustercheck, we were informed by the intel system to pack our barang barang and get ready for transfer. Soon, the cell door opened by itself and all the inmates from the same storey were gathered, headcount by officer, then we proceed. Stepping out our dayroom, we returned all our barang barang to the cookies. We were stripe later for checking, then we proceed to another destination escorted by officers. This time is different, we need to go through numbers of sercuity doors and taking staircases. Its like a maze in CPC!

(Note: No keys are used by the officers for opening doors, its operated through their electronic sercuity system by the Ops Room)

Soon, we were led to and walk through a underground passage and our journey took us about 15 minutes to reach the next destination - Cluster B4

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

Thoughout my experience of the past 3 days stay at B2, I would like to share these with you readers:

a) Get mentally prepare to stripe for checking whenever you leave from your cell room to another destination

b) Cluster B2 (Inmates assumed as former Queenstown Prison Remand Center), is a 'Transit Terminal' for remand inmates and new comers (Will get transfer to another cluster within a few days once ready).

c) No yard nor dayroom activities for the new-comers before transfer

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

1. Do not commit any crimes inside prison.
2. Do not get into fight
3. Do not smoke if other cell mate managed to smuggle ciggarettes into prison
4. 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

e) Blame no one, those incarcerated are responsible for their actions. Every adult is responsible to themselves and to those who depend on them. It is all water already flowed across the bridge and now it is too late to regret. The best course of action is to plan for the future and not look back as what had been done cannot be undone.

If you think you are suffering, remember that there are always people worse off. Don't pity yourselves for being where you are or had to go through but take the courage to pick up your lives and start again. You need to be positive for everything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Why people like you and your cellmates are where you are, was due probably to character flaws. Everybody has some weaknesses but not to the extent of breaking the law.

The sun always shines after the rain. I wish you well and hope you succeed in life.

f) If you intend to go and experience prison life, I can assured you that its not gonna be a pleasant experience even thought its for a day or a week and even without a record but for sheer experience.

You will be stressed and your loved ones will be constantly on your mind especially in the early part of your sentence. When your sentence is ending, you will start to think about your loved ones and your future when you are released.

Serving time is not the biggest issue, its the mental torture of losing one's freedom and thinking of your loved ones and the unchartered journey ahead upon one's release.

If you want to experienced prison life for curiosity, you can do it at home.

Locked yourself in your room for a couple of days, no TV, internet, aircon, communication with the outside World. Cover all your windows with curtains, sleep on the hard floor, etc.

----------------(To Be Continue)----------------------

 

[red amoeba]

bro, tks for the post.

once again, I need to ask some "stupid" questions:

- u are locked up most of the time in the cell..how about drinking water? Where u get drinking water? I heard they will give you a container for water for use in the cell is it? If finished, you have to wait till meal time for refill?

- i suppose no underwear right? Just shorts and commando below? So, morning, u see people got hardon? I am not gay but i suppose all guys, so everyone fark care?

- u mentioned cookies - these are also inmates right? But they are like "working" as cookies - for your case, your sentence is relatively short, u don't qualify to work is it right?

 

[Inmate]

bro, tks for the post.

once again, I need to ask some "stupid" questions:

- u are locked up most of the time in the cell..how about drinking water? Where u get drinking water? I heard they will give you a container for water for use in the cell is it? If finished, you have to wait till meal time for refill?

- i suppose no underwear right? Just shorts and commando below? So, morning, u see people got hardon? I am not gay but i suppose all guys, so everyone fark care?

- u mentioned cookies - these are also inmates right? But they are like "working" as cookies - for your case, your sentence is relatively short, u don't qualify to work is it right?

1. Drinking water unlimited from our shower tap.

2. No underwear provided. You have to prepared to show ya birdbird.. Anyway, all are mens...nothing to shy. Believe me, its u r in, with those surronding and envoirment tou wont have the feel to erect.

3. Click here for more info and details regrding cookies

 

[Narong Wongwan]

just a couple weeks in prison and already wanna ''enlighten'' people ah...................


why don't you write a book and hold seminars........................

My thoughts exactly...no disrespect to TS but your short sentence can only provide basic insights to prison life.
Actually people who have been in lockup or remanded or go DB before in NS would know what to expect even if they
are first timer in prison.

I myself not returned since my stint in QRP (shortly before they closed).
I was one of few who saw out entire sentence there (was told due to my educational background).
Will be going in to cluster B again soon, praying daily that it will be a reduced sentence. No one goes to prison if they can help it but i can think of 2 things that are worse, reformative training and death row.

 

[Inmate]

My thoughts exactly...no disrespect to TS but your short sentence can only provide basic insights to prison life.
Actually people who have been in lockup or remanded or go DB before in NS would know what to expect even if they
are first timer in prison.

I myself not returned since my stint in QRP (shortly before they closed).
I was one of few who saw out entire sentence there (was told due to my educational background).
Will be going in to cluster B again soon, praying daily that it will be a reduced sentence. No one goes to prison if they can help it but i can think of 2 things that are worse, reformative training and death row.

Bro, what case you gonna? Repeated offence or different?

 

[Conqueror]

All On Screen !

My last 2 days of lock-up at Cluster B2

<Arrival of next day> The lights from our ceiling are switch on at 5am and the water supply are on again.

(Note: Water supply are off during mustercheck and lights off 9pm - 5am)

As usual, we wake up and do whatever we need to do..

----------------(To Be Continue)----------------------

Aiyo ! Why don't you get a director to feature the story that you will be telling us. It will be an eyeopener to have another untainted true story of another in another perspective in detail. Who knows, you may become another semi-celeb for awhile. We don't hear much of the true story except CRAPPY TCSS dramas productions.

 

[Inmate]

Re: All On Screen !

Chapter 3.1: The 'Uncle' & The 8-Men Cellroom at B4

While walking from B2 to B4, my mind recalled back a inmate whom I have met and chat with earlier on in the Yard room while we were waiting for our haircut. I addressed him as 'uncle'. Ageing about late 70 , he is a first time offender. He was sentenced for 2 weeks jail Term for not paying fines accumulating up to $6000. He stay with his wife and no children. His wife is only few years younger than him but is not as healthy as him. 'Uncle' is a hokkien speaking inmate whom can't communicate in english. Due to his poor background and health condition of his wife, he still have to work for survival inspite of his current age.

He was being fine for operating and selling fruits without license at public areas such as MRT Stations & Bus Interchange Stations. Needless to say, he was being caught again and again and received his summon tickets (fine up to $300 per ticket). Dragging and unable to pay, he was called up to attend court and was sentences to jail in default of his fines.

Till now, I can remember what he told me: " I will still do back my same trade again after my release although the judge had warned me not to commit again. But what can I do and who is going to support me and my wife's health expenses if I don't work?"

So do he really have a choice?

Even if there are communities which can assist his problem, what concerns me is can assist till what limit?

Beside fines and jail, aren't there any other solutions that are able to solve this issue?

I really hope I can have a chance to meet 'Uncle' again and have a coffee with him!

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

There are about 40+ of us (Inmates that were being locked up in the same storey of B2) whom have transfer to Cluster B4, We were later bought to HU3 (Housing Unit 3 located at level 5 & 6 of Cluster B4). We proceed to the Yard room of H3, collecting our new set of belongings (the same type of items which we have previously returned to B2). A briefing of the house rules were also conducted by the cookies followed by the officer-in charge at the Yard room. There are a total of 3 dayrooms (divisons) in HU3 and a hugh group of inmates including me were assigned to Dayroom 3. Inside Dayroom 3, there are a total of 10 cell rooms at level 5 and another 10 cell rooms at level 6. Every single cellroom which consists of 2 'doorless' toilet, size about 250 sqt (double the size of my cellroom at B2), can lockup max. up to 8 inmates! Sadly to say, I was separated from my 3 roomates. Together with other inmates whom had been assigned to the same cellroom as me (total 8 inmates), we to proceed cellroom No:629.


---To Be Continued (Chapter 3.2: My 7 new room mates)--

 

[red amoeba]

Re: All On Screen !

keep posting bro...my tent is the red one you see...LOL