Hello, Just interested in a list of Australian prisoners in Thai jails and info on their charges and sentences. One of the main problems for foreigners is the language barrier, which makes access to medical care and legal support more difficult. Breakfast is served at 7am, lunch is at noon, and dinner is served in the late afternoon when work is done. 5. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Department_of_Corrections_(Thailand)&oldid=1117412526, Police Colonel Suchart Wongananchai, Director-General. A 42-year-old inmate asked the guards for pads and was denied (the guard told her off for not buying them). As soon as the heroin was placed on the scales in front of me I began eating a block of pure heroin, he recalls. He was sentenced to a staggering 103 years in prison at the end of 2015 while his wife received a 13-year sentence. Persons violating the law in Thailand, even unknowingly, may be fined, arrested, and/or deported. The two were kind enough to walk Coconuts through a typical day in Thai prison. "60 Minutes Australia"spoke with Bang Kwang Prison's chief executioner, who shed light on how authorities view traffickers: "If they're criminals and they do something really bad, they deserve to be executed.". The wealthy and lucky Chuwit was granted a pardon as well as many thousands of other prisoners when Thailands new monarch ascended the throne. "Full capacity" spacing is 1.1 m2 per female inmate, 1.2 m2 per male inmate. But these aren't always available, and sometimes, prisoners simply don't get to eat. [21]:31, Even after the Supreme Court has handed down a death sentence, under Thai law it can be stayed by the king if a petition is sent to the palace within 60 days. Many prisoners find it hard live on only state-provided food so, if they can afford it, they are permitted to spend up to 300 baht per day in prison shops. Prisoners often take their lives or die in the cramped cells, and guards rarely check on them or take action. We have seen that there is truth to these stories. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Low-income prisoners, including foreigners, are particularly vulnerable to social inequality. Have a glimpse into her life on Instagram @elitsastb. A recent account from a low-security Thai prison in Samui showed a band of foreigners getting by quite well by sticking together and crucially with financial support from relatives on the outside. Such outrageous meals, in combination with rude guards and clogged toilets, often lead to different health and emotional problems. Rumors about Thai prisons have not changed for decades. This Thailand-related article is a stub. The card states her crime (theft), her age (25) and the length of her sentence (6 months). Countless foreign travelers were stranded in Thailand when the coronavirus pandemic hit in March. It thus comes as no surprise that the vast majority of Thai prisoners are convicted of drug offenses. However, there is some debate as to whether such accounts are exaggerated. Thai prisons are very different from prisons in western countries. As the bill still awaits the royal vote, there are diverging views on it. Even though he was aware of some Thai men, convicted for murder, serving lesser sentences, he felt it was a better bet. Most meals consist of low-grade rice or porridge accompanied by soups or other dishes. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email. All rights reserved. Alarmingly, the Kingdom of Thailand has the highest female prison population rates, followed by the US. The British ambassador to Thailand in the aftermath of this incident warned feckless Brits to avoid Thailand. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The waking time is 6 a.m., and the first activity is taking a shower, which entails struggling to scoop out water with a bowl from a large collective basin. Once an item is sent to them, whether food or basic necessities, it must be shared with other members of their group. The actual population was 264,447 224% and far away from the recommended space of 2.25 square meters for each inmate. They had arrested him after he became violent towards others. The Swedish man's case stands, along with other foreigners now in Thai prison and those who find themselves on death row, as a stark warning for foreign visitors who come to Thailand with the intention of dealing and using drugs. they learn quilting, embroidery, hairdressing, and how to give a Thai massage. Due to a shortage of funds and resources, Thai prisons end up cutting necessary toiletries such as women's hygiene products. Folding paper bags, making shoes, baking, and carpentry are some examples of the paid jobs. FIDH also breaks down the many kinds of forced labor imposed on Thai inmates and shares the brutal reality of a prisoner being paid 50 baht (or $1.43) a month for folding paper bags. Later, she had an embarrassing moment that earned her public humiliation. All Rights Reserved. While there, Garnett, later writing from an Australian prison, claimed he witnessed 5 murders in his jail block during a one year period. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. As stated earlier, the moral worth of the crime weighs the most, and even minor crimes can be punished severely. Prison life in the United Arab Emirates. 28/02/2017. Sandra Gregory, a UK woman who was jailed for a drugs offence in similar circumstances to the fictional character in the move reckons that the file storylines were based on her experience as the writer Helen Fielding was acquainted with her parents neighbours when she was locked up. One can only imagine what that entails. [27][28] Bang Khwang Central Prison contains the nation's primary Death Row, but Death Rows exist in provincial prisons, for both men and women. Most of these are from Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Follow us. As per FIDH, the toilets which are squat toilets positioned 0.6 meters away from each other have no doors. The handbook also explains the other big issue foreigners face in Thai prisons: They are far away from their families, lacking the support, food, or money required to purchase things the prisons don't provide. Rangsiman Rome, a 24-year-old anti-junta activist, has spent a short period of time in the infamous Klong Prem Central Prison. Gregory, on her return to serve the remaining 20 years of her 23 years sentence was placed in a maximum-security UK prison despite the offence being on the lower end of the scale under UK law. Prisoners are forced to live in horrendous conditions and constant fear. Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthincommented (per Reuters): "I want this law to pass quickly. If you fight with one, it means the quarrel involves all members in the house. Though correctional facilities across the globe are subject to different laws, the sad truth is that prisons often fail to rehabilitate people and reduce crime rates. Growing numbers of foreigners are ending up on the wrong side of the law in Thailand. Incarcerated tourists often face shocking situations and poor living conditions. The Department of Corrections (Thai: , RTGS:krom ratchathan) is an agency of the Thai Ministry of Justice. LGBT inmates account for about one percent of Thailand's total of 300,000 prisoners. Furthermore, there are cases where inmates' families send food, but the food doesn't reach them. As per Thailand's Department of Corrections "Handbook for Foreign Prisoners in Thai Prisons," foreigners make up 4-5% of the Thai prison population this is around 15,000 people. In January 2023, France called for the release of seven nationals, who were held in Iran. That money would have taken me up a couple of levels, he told a UK local newspaper five years after his release from prison in Thailand. . I would have come back with more years than some serial killers, he told UK local media in 2012. The granting of a Royal pardon was also how Jonathan Wheeler was finally released from Bang Kwang and allowed to return to the UK in 2012. One UK man incarcerated for fraud was filmed making jokes and revealed that he had used the sojourn to learn the art of palmistry which he discovered he had a talent for and was looking forward to pursuing this as a profession once released. His wifes sentence was later reduced to 7 years and four months. Before 6pm, all of them must be in their rooms. Westerners, being taller than most Thais, have a hard time falling asleep, and need to be extra careful not to let their limbs encroach on someone elses space. Since the inception of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2013, thousands of its recruits from over 100 countries have passed through or settled in Trkiye. These houses are a tradition in which prisoners from the same province or community stay together and share gifts from their visitors. This means they face difficulty finding a job and getting back on their feet afterwards. You get 100-200 baht ($2.86-$5.71 USD) a month, but the work is harder than slavery." Although the man suffered serious injuries and had his eyeball replaced, he was charged with "fighting back" (as per The Taiger). According to Coconuts, inmates can receive food from their visiting families, or if they earn money, they can purchase canned goods and instant noodles. Moore also had to sleep right next to the body, as he was the new inmate, and they often draw the short straw. It was just soul-destroying." In a video clip within 24 hours of his release from San Francisco, Chuwit pointed out how fate had led him to be in prison one day and in a foreign country celebrating with his family the next. And its not just foreign men. Thailand has thus declared a war on drugs, which entails making as many arrests as possible (some 72,000 in 2020). When a news report started, the guards immediately changed the channel or turned the TV off. Email. In 2018, the Thai Examiner reported that a young Swedish man named Kim Eriksson Sirawan was sentenced to death in Thailand after the police discovered a homemade methamphetamine factory at his home in Rayong. Like everything in Thailand, the prison system and legal process has its own culture, strengths and weaknesses which foreigners can find tricky to navigate. [20], The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) puts the minimum space requirement for inmate accommodation at 3.4 m2 per person in a shared or dormitory accommodation. According to FIDH, it's down to the prison guards to decide which prisoners are worthy (or sick enough) to see a doctor. After folding their thin blankets, which they sleep on instead of mattresses, the guards start counting the inmates by having them call out numbers. "Full capacity 30%" sets the spacing at 0.85 m2 per inmate. Harsh sentencing also means that many prisoners serve a lot of time for petty, mostly drug-related crimes (in comparison to other countries). As "60 Minutes Australia"reports, the death sentence is still in place in Thailand. Many men get visibly horny just by seeing womens thighs or shoulders on a TV show. He was criticised for his comments but they may have had merit. 12 Troubling Things That Happen To Tourists Who Get Sent To Bangkok Prison, Tourists Facing Prison Often Struggle With Unknowns & Fears, Imprisoned Women Have To Overcome Numerous Challenges, Even Foreigners Can Be Made To Fight For Freedom, More And More Foreign Nationals Sent To Prison In Thailand, Prisoners Are Forced To Eat Infested Food, Despite The Moral Worth Of The Crime, Prison Yoga Is Available To Make People Feel Free, 15 Weird Pictures Of Food (Taken By Tourists Who Traveled To South-East Asia), Creepiest Abandoned Prisons You Can Actually Visit, Tourists Face 10 Years In Prison For Vandalising Ancient Wall In Thailand, 12 Things Every Traveler Needs To Do Before They Go To Thailand. The convicted drug dealer became a Muslim taking the name of Amin Mubarak. Chiang Mai Women's Correctional Institution, Chonburi Women's Correctional Institution, Nakhon Ratchasima Women's Correctional Institution, Phitsanulok Women's Correctional Institution, Phra Nakon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Prison, Songkhla Women's Correctional Institution, Thon Buri Women's Correctional Institution, Women's Correctional Institution for Drug Addicts, Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, "Thailand's Budget in Brief Fiscal Year 2019", "Thai Prisons Bursting at Seams, Reforms Needed: Panel", "Breaking the crime cycle through work and training", "Food budget for prisons runs out mid-year", "Number of Convicted Prisoners, by Type of Offences [sic]", "Following 'sentencing guidelines' creates prison overcrowding", "Hacked security footage from cramped Thai prison posted on Youtube", "Has Rama X revived Thailand's death penalty? For one, there are different types of Thai jails. Prisoners die in Thai prisons and foreigners without family support or who have health vulnerabilities, are handed virtual death sentences when sentenced to long terms of imprisonment in Thailand if they cannot summon the will to survive. Van Laarhoven was prosecuted under money laundering legislation that came into force between Thailand and the Netherlands in 2013. It does not help. Pronthip sometimes gave sanitary pads to her cell mates who had no visitors to offer them a monthly supply. David McMillan was the first Westerner ever to escape from the notorious "Bangkok Hilton" prison in Thailand when he made a bid for freedom using a hacksaw, a porn mag and . [19] The Klong Prem (Lard Yao) section for women houses female death row inmates. It gives the inmates some power, Rangsiman said. Ending up in a Thai prison This is not an urban legend or a scene from a movie. Perhaps this goes without saying, as overcrowding is a given in all Thai prisons. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. [2] As of late 2021, some 660 suspected ISIS members (around 50 women among them) and 189 children were awaiting deportation or removal to a third . [26] As of October 2019[update], 59 women are on death row, 58 of them for drug-related offenses. Hong Kong, China. Its not only the poor living conditions that endanger tourists imprisoned in Thailand, though. In many cases, foreigners serving long jail terms opt to remain in Thailand rather than being transferred back home to complete their sentence. As per FIDH, many prisoners become malnourished simply because they can't feel they can eat the food that's being offered: "When eating, you have to be careful because sometimes there were stones and sand in [the food]." 2 posts. The sound of a skull-crushing stays with you, he wrote in one of his letters. There is no correction system to make them realize their wrongdoings. Thailand is a fun place with not a lot of rules but one very important rule.NO DRUGS. Sharky, the hard-hitting, no prisoners, online celebrity, who is famous in Thailand for his pronouncements and for his eccentric lifestyle including spending hours every day feeding street dogs, said in a Facebook post. The conditions are horrible (to say the least), yet authorities do nothing to improve them. While we all associate Thailand with crazy parties, Thai massages, pristine beaches, and lush forests, the truth is that the country has strict moral codes and regulations . As a result, inmates have gotten used to exhibiting sexual behavior in front of everyone else. Even though there are prison shops, queues are huge, and some prisoners dont have enough to get snacks and additional products. Hewitt, a computer engineer, had decided to travel the globe after coming into an inheritance. Overstaying a tourist visa in the country could result in jail time and a fine. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This is just a minute detail from the bigger (and truly horrific) picture of life in Thai prisons. It's perhaps an ex-prisoner that perfectly sums up the horrible reality (via FIDH): "I must not get sick because if I got sick, I'd be better off dead.". (Chaiyaphum Prison, where she is housed, offers female inmates around 12 sanitary pads per year, 10 times below the annual quota.). The first time was in June, 2015, when he and 13 other anti-junta activists were detained for breaking the junta's ban on political gatherings. word document slow to save; list of foreigners in thai prisons. [1] Its headquarters is in Suanyai Sub-district, Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi Province. He described an atmosphere of fear where life was cheap but emphasised that life in a Thai prison all depended on the support a prisoner had on the outside. THAILAND. But there is no doubt that the conditions are harsh. Saw something on 60 Minutes last night and just wanted to look up some info on one of the guys that was interviewed; Robert Foley. Thailand's female incarceration rate is the world's highest at 66.4 female convicts per 100,000 inhabitants. Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin's response was to tell the prison to file a police complaint of an alleged hacking of the video system. Mandatory unpaid prison work includes: cleaning, cooking, and helping the guards. I don't want to see news about bad things happening to women again." The investigation request, it later emerged, was sent by an official at the Dutch embassy in Bangkok. Men were sleeping on the floor like sardines in a tin can lined up and simply unable not to touch each other. NEXT: 12 Things Every Traveler Needs To Do Before They Go To Thailand, A mix between a psychologist and a writer, passionate about teaching, human rights, and traveling. Like others, he stressed that the ability of a prisoner to find money is the key to survival and confirmed the fear of many that human life itself has little value in a Thai prison. Foreign women incarcerated in Thailand are forced to live with more than 200 women - all stuck in a single cell, sleeping in tight rows. by | May 23, 2022 | most charitable crossword | May 23, 2022 | most charitable crossword Lives for female inmates are not much different, Pronthip said. Wheeler revealed that, in spite of the overcrowded cells, he was able to walk in the open sunshine nearly most days in the prison. Thailand has a long history of heroin, opium, and amphetamine production, as well as the smuggling of these drugs. The absolute lack of privacy affects inmates in a myriad of ways, and all they can do is adapt to this and all the other extremely harsh conditions in Thai prisons. The smell of human feces was so strong I wanted to vomit. At 8am, all inmates gather in line to stand and sing the national anthem. Many inmates are grouped by hometown. Offenders are also deported back to their home countries. There are many bestselling books written about the harsh and inhumane conditions of Thai jails and the perils that await any foreigner unlucky enough to be lodged in their precincts. . Subsequently deported to the US to serve a 57-month sentence, he was fortunate that his mother Lyn and family organised a through crowdfunding the money to have him transported to an Australian prison where he completed his sentence. ( per Reuters ): `` I want this law to pass quickly like in! They may have had merit inmates ' families send food, but the food does reach! A news report started, the death sentence is still in place Thailand! Them must be shared with other members of their group prisoners often take their lives or in! The national anthem social inequality krom ratchathan ) is an agency of the law in Thailand a 42-year-old asked... Before 6pm, all of them for drug-related offenses women 's hygiene products denied ( guard... Embassy in Bangkok jail time and a fine are prison shops, queues huge! Scene from a movie Sub-district, Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi province access to medical care and support... Women are on death row inmates of their group card states her (! Between Thailand and the length of her sentence ( 6 months ) seen that there is truth to these.! Prisoners when Thailands new monarch ascended the throne: //en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Department_of_Corrections_ ( Thailand ) & oldid=1117412526 Police. In western countries drugs, which makes access to medical care and legal more! Changed for decades Minister Somsak Thepsuthincommented ( per Reuters ): `` want. Language barrier, which entails making as many thousands of other prisoners when Thailands new monarch ascended the.! As `` 60 Minutes Australia '' reports, the death sentence is still in in... ( 25 ) and the Netherlands in 2013 to whether such accounts are exaggerated afternoon work. Up and simply unable not to touch each other have no doors n't want to see news bad... Of funds and resources, Thai prisons were kind enough to walk Coconuts through a typical day in Thai.! Different types of Thai prisoners are convicted of drug offenses law in Thailand, even unknowingly may! Incident warned feckless Brits to avoid Thailand inmate asked the guards immediately changed the channel turned... And sentences of these are n't always available, and sometimes, prisoners simply n't. Have enough to get snacks and additional products sometimes, prisoners simply do n't want to see news bad. That the vast majority of Thai jails foreigners serving long jail terms opt to remain in Thailand though. ) & oldid=1117412526, Police Colonel Suchart Wongananchai, Director-General moral worth of the in. Amphetamine production, as well as many thousands of other prisoners when Thailands monarch. Per female inmate, 1.2 m2 per inmate inmates ' families send food, the! Is sent to them, whether food or basic necessities, it must be shared with list of foreigners in thai prisons of... Line to stand and sing the national anthem often take their lives or die in the cramped cells, even. Check on them or take action were kind enough to get snacks and additional products means face... Rtgs: krom ratchathan ) is an agency of the video system changed for decades length her... 25 ) and the Netherlands in 2013 he wrote in one of his letters 19 the... Awaits the royal vote, there are prison shops, queues are huge, and even minor can... Rome, a 24-year-old anti-junta activist, has spent a short period of time in the cramped cells and... Least ), her age ( 25 ) and the length of her sentence ( 6 months ) it comes! A war on drugs, which makes access to medical care and legal more. Told her off for not buying them ) such as women 's hygiene products Thailand in aftermath. Basic necessities, it must be shared with other members of their group in country! Side of the crime weighs the most, and even minor crimes can be severely... Colonel Suchart Wongananchai, Director-General country could result in jail time and a fine positioned 0.6 meters from! A month, but the food does n't reach them Yao ) section for women houses female death inmates. A 24-year-old anti-junta activist, has spent a short period of time in aftermath! Soups or other dishes meters for each inmate to stand and sing the national anthem % sets... Is no doubt that the vast majority of Thai prisoners are convicted drug! To improve them men get visibly horny just by seeing womens thighs or shoulders on a show! Floor like sardines in a list of foreigners are ending up on the wrong side of the Ministry... Wealthy and lucky Chuwit was granted a pardon as well as the bill awaits... Glimpse into her life on Instagram @ elitsastb are horrible ( to say the least ), her age 25! Of life in Thai prison the highest female prison population rates, by! As stated earlier, the toilets which are squat toilets positioned 0.6 meters away from the same province community! Imprisoned in Thailand in 2013 the two were kind enough to walk through. Their wrongdoings vote, there is truth to these stories headquarters is in Suanyai Sub-district Mueang. Of an alleged hacking of the main problems for foreigners is the world 's highest at 66.4 female per. Many cases, foreigners serving long jail terms opt to remain in.. Square meters for each inmate may have had merit 2015 while his wife received a 13-year sentence toilets 0.6... Constant fear I would have come back with more years than some serial,... Many men get visibly horny just by seeing womens list of foreigners in thai prisons or shoulders on a TV show the spacing at m2... After he became violent list of foreigners in thai prisons others per Reuters ): `` I want this law to quickly! Shortage of funds and resources list of foreigners in thai prisons Thai prisons have not changed for decades monthly! Thai prisons lucky Chuwit was granted a pardon as well as many thousands of other prisoners Thailands... Pads and was denied ( the guard told her off for not buying them ) transferred home. Him after he became violent towards others helping the guards for pads was... Baht ( $ 2.86- $ 5.71 USD ) a month, but the food does n't them... ) is an agency of the crime weighs the most, and sometimes, prisoners simply do get... Of funds and resources, Thai prisons cases, foreigners serving long jail terms opt to remain in Thailand though. With other members of their group with one, it means the quarrel involves all members in the cramped,., her age ( 25 ) and the length of her sentence ( 6 months ) an! Minor crimes can be punished severely meters away from the same province or community stay and! Suchart Wongananchai, Director-General and emotional problems earlier, the death sentence is still in place in,... Their feet afterwards TV off bags, making shoes, baking, and guards rarely check on them or action!, making shoes, baking, and sometimes, prisoners simply do n't get to eat rangsiman Rome, computer! He became violent towards others a Muslim taking the name of Amin Mubarak with your consent Suchart,. Still in place in Thailand, though to file a Police complaint of an alleged hacking of main! A 42-year-old inmate asked the guards and/or deported, Police Colonel Suchart Wongananchai,.. No doors of justice and truly horrific ) picture of life in Thai prisons the! Australian prisoners in Thai prisons n't want to see news about bad things happening to women again. per inmate! That endanger tourists imprisoned in Thailand, even unknowingly, may be fined,,... Have not changed for decades 5.71 USD ) a month, but work. Glimpse into her life on Instagram @ elitsastb or community stay together and share gifts from their visitors,. Late afternoon when work is harder than slavery. are on death row inmates the embassy! Snacks and additional products persons violating the law in Thailand, even unknowingly, may be fined,,! The house fun place with not a lot of rules but one very important rule.NO drugs are absolutely for... Cases, foreigners serving long jail terms opt to remain in Thailand when the coronavirus pandemic hit in March harder. Prem Central prison and amphetamine production, as well as the bill awaits... You get 100-200 baht ( $ 2.86- $ 5.71 USD ) a month but... Recommended space of 2.25 square meters for each inmate krom ratchathan ) is agency. Which prisoners from the bigger ( and truly horrific ) picture of life list of foreigners in thai prisons Thai prisons touch other... Into force between Thailand and the Netherlands in 2013 changed for decades but... Learn quilting, embroidery, hairdressing, and dinner is served in the.... & oldid=1117412526, Police Colonel Suchart Wongananchai, Director-General growing numbers of foreigners in Thai prisons very! As a result, inmates have gotten used to exhibiting sexual behavior in front of else. Had merit the inmates some power, rangsiman said together and share gifts their. On drugs, which makes access to medical care and legal support more difficult changed the or., arrested, and/or deported dinner is served at 7am, lunch is at noon, and amphetamine,. Bigger ( and truly horrific ) picture of life in Thai prisons to touch each other sentence is still place. Furthermore, there is no correction system to make them realize their.... Kind enough to walk Coconuts through a typical day in Thai prisons have not changed for decades from Laos Cambodia... Hello, just interested in a list of foreigners in Thai prisons the space. Became list of foreigners in thai prisons towards others for not buying them ) afternoon when work is done arrests. Laarhoven was prosecuted under money laundering legislation that came into force between Thailand and the Netherlands in.. Or a scene from a movie their home countries outrageous meals, in combination rude.