CAN’T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE GRASSES!

Overcrowding being at the critical state it is here (850 or more housed in blocks build for 250) most building chiefs take advantage of the situation by allowing a certain number of prisoners to sleep in the hallways that run down the centre of each floor between the rows of communal cells. This serves several purposes; firstly it makes a lot of cash for the chief. Those prisoners wishing to enjoy the benefits of residing there, such as more personal floor space and the freedom to walk around and ‘stretch their legs’, must do so by paying heavy cash bribes to the chief. Secondly, only those prisoners generally working or spying for the prison guards are chosen. This provides many extra eyes and ears to keep a watch on the activities of prisoners in every cell. The cells are only separated from the hallway by the bars. Should any prisoners be ‘up to something’ (Gambling, Playing Cards, Fighting e.t.c.) the prisoners in the hallway will see immediately raise the alarm. By having this system the ‘Real’ guards have no need to be in the block and it is locked down for the entire 17 hour lockdown period, the whole of the 50 cell interior being guarded by its own inmates!

In 1999 some prisoners took advantage of the periodic return of ‘Hallway’ inmates to their cells. This is a common occurrence and happens when the chief is in need of a little extra ‘Tea Money’. The hallways are cleared and a new charge announced for those wishing to return to their comfortable spots outside cells. Over the next couple of weeks the space is gradually re-occupied as prisoners pay-off the latest charge or ‘bed space tax’.

On this particular occasion when hallway was empty in building 2, two prisoners in one of the cells sawed through the bars of the cell window, climbed down and over several wall before finally scaling the perimeter wall and escaping to freedom.

Not so incredible you may think until you know that this escape would never have been possible without the aid of two other prisoners in their cell. These two obviously drew the short straw for it was their job to hold the remaining 20 or so Thai prisoners in the cell at knifepoint whilst the first two sawed through the bars and fled. This was to prevent their cellmates raising the alarm, almost a certainty had it not been for the fear of being slashed or stabbed. The following morning when the guards opened the block the alarm was finally raised but the two escapees were long gone. The two ‘Knifemen’ were instantly fingered and set up on by guards and prisoner blueshirts who brutally beat them. Heavily shackled and in need of a Physician they were thrown into solitary where they would spend many months licking their wounds. Later they were charged with assisting escape for which they were given additional sentences.

As for the two escapees? The first was rounded up when a couple of days later he was spotted by an off duty guard still within spitting distance of the prison gates. The second enjoyed a somewhat longer period of freedom but was re-arrested 7 months after the escape when he foolishly returned to his home village and was recognized by somebody who alerted the police.

Again, not so incredible until you learn that the person who gave him up was his very own Mother!