Introduction.
Dear
readers, my name is Jer, known as ''Áh Bee'' during my days in
prison. I am the founder of Singapore Prison Stories (SPS). I am an
ex-convict who has served my jail term from July 2011 to August 2011. I
was imprisoned in CPC (Changi Prison Complex) for a month, and served
the remaining of my sentence under PPP (Home Detention Program).
Throughout my 'short' two months of incarceration and the home
detention program, I have come across and met a number of ex-convicts
who have committed all types of offences. They shared with me their
backgrounds and personal stories, all of which have taught me so much,
and made me better understand and appreciate the meaning of life itself.
.
Being
inspired by these people who have supported and helped me get through
my life in prison, I have decided to leave my past behind and start life
afresh. I wanted to create an avenue for which people can relate to;
whether they are prisoners, ex-prisoners, or even the convicted ones who
have no one to turn to for advices. By creating SPS, I hope to bring
about awareness to the prisoner support community. In SPS, we have a
forum which discusses these issues. Ex-prisoners are encouraged to step
forward to share with the community their experiences and thoughts. For
issues plaguing a person who is soon entering jail, he may turn to the
SPS’s forum, where the community (and even moderators) will try to help
him with his queries.
.
Although I am still struggling with
debts after my release, I am no longer in depression. I have finally
found and understand the real meaning of life and regained back my
strength and confidence to face the realities of life again,
all thanks to my short stint in prison, the solace and support provided
by my family and the inmates/officers that I have met in CPC.
.
I
sincerely hope that my life story here can actually help out any of you
readers or the people around you. Think twice before you commit a crime
and always be prepared to face the consequences – jail time, caning, a
fine, and even the social stigma when you are released. Committing a
crime is always never a necessity, but an option. You have the power to choose.
.
. Chapter 1.1: What I had done
.
I
have always been living with my parents and I can say that I have a
close-knit and beloved family. I have my own stable and decent business
which I have been spending many years to build up. For the past
twenty-eight years, I have been leading a decent lifestyle.
.
Like
most of the readers here, I have always told myself and the people
around me that I will not engage in anything which is illegal.
.
One fine day, tragedy struck. After the opening of the Casino
in Marina Bay Sands (MBS), my life was destroyed. Drawn by greed, I
lost everything (my savings, my company, my lifestyle) within the months
that I had spent in MBS. Needless to say, I ended up committing a crime
due to financial issues.
.
I did not try to hide or escape
after I had committed the crime. I was already mentally prepared to face
the consequences. I turned myself in the next day after I had committed
the crime.
.
One month from the day that I had provided my
incriminating statement, I was summoned to the Subordinate Court by my
IO from the Cantonment Police Station. My case was a direct one, as I
had decided to plead guilty without hiring a lawyer and going through
the appeal process. I wanted to receive my punishment as soon as
possible so that I could end it once and for all.
.
. Chapter 1.2: Arriving at the Subordinate Court
.
I
turned up with my family members at the Subordinate Court, Courtroom 26
(as ordered by my IO) at 9 A.M. sharp for my court hearing. When I
entered Courtroom 26, it was already full of people and the trial had
just started. I was not alone; there were about forty plus people
(including the remand prisoners) awaiting their hearing. My whole
waiting and hearing process took about 2 hours.
.
When my
turn came, I was ordered by the judge to attend Courtroom 10 at 2.30
P.M. (on the very same day) to wait for my sentence after I had plead
guilty to the judge during my hearing.
.
Just like anyone
else who was attending court for the very first time in their life, it
was a very tense, stressful, and nervous moment for me. It was an
unfathomable feeling. But something that made my heart swell up with
gratitude and pride was the support and accompaniment of my family. They
were there when I needed them most, and they stayed with me till the
very last moment!
. Advices & Information
. 1. If you are prepared to plead guilty on the day that you attend court, you will be sent to jail on the very same day itself. . 2.
If you plead guilty on the same day that you attend court, try not to
bring a cash amount of more than $300. The prison will only refund you
back in cheque upon your release if the monetary amount declared exceeds
$300 . 3.
If you are wearing spectacles, do get yourself a black plastic-made
framed spectacle as the prison does not allow other types of
material-made spectacle frame. (You are only allowed to wear for the
first 3 weeks of your lock-up) . 4.
Make sure you have a heavy lunch before you attend your final sentence
as you will mostly be sent to Changi Prison Complex (CPC) in the late
evening. Prison will only serve bread for dinner at night.
.
As
ordered, I arrived at Courtroom 10 at 2.30 P.M. sharp for my final
sentence. I was not alone; there were three people seated at the waiting
area, awaiting their sentences.
.
Upon the arrival of the
judge (Female/ Chinese/ Mid-Thirties), everyone in the court stood up
and made a bow (as a sign of respect), and sat down again.
. I had committed an offence pertaining to Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT) which was charged under Section 408.
.
I
pleaded guilty, and the judge sentenced me to a jail term of one month
including a fine which amounted to $8,000. Defaulting on the fine would
result me in serving an additional four weeks.
.
My total
jail term was one month and four weeks, as I could not pay the fine. But
I still felt relieved as I was expecting a three to five months jail
term. Soon I was handcuffed by the officer, this being the first time in
my whole life!
.
When I got handcuffed, my mind became a
total blank. Nothing registered in my mind at all. At that very
sorrowful moment, I could feel the pain that my family members had
suffered. The tears that they shed made it even worse for me, for my
actions had caused them great distress.
.
Please think again
before you commit a crime! In Singapore, you can run but you cannot
hide forever. When you commit a crime, you are not only destroying
yourself, but you are also hurting all those whom have always shown love
and concern to you! They are the ones suffering the most when you get
caught and sentenced to jail!
.
. Chapter 1.3: The lock-up at Subordinate Court
.
Once
the court was dismissed, I was escorted by the police officers to a
side exit. Eyes filled with sorrow, I could only turn my head towards my
family to have my last look and our goodbyes were communicated through
our eyes as I was not allowed to maintain verbal contact with them.
.
While
being escorted, I walked through a narrow passage and passed a
staircase. Finally, I reached the basement where the lock-up cell rooms
were located. I was soon brought to a room where there were others like
me, being handcuffed. Turn by turn, we surrendered our belongings, had
our height and weight measured, and had our thumb printed on some
documents ( No signature allowed). I was later brought to one of the
lock-up cells after I was done.
.
The lightings in the cell
room were dim and the walls were full of fingerprint markings. It was
not very stuffy as there was air-conditioning. There was a toilet
attached within the cell room but was it did not provide a sense of
privacy, as there were no doors to prevent people from peeking in.
.
I
was not alone in the cell room! There were about twenty other people,
and they include all ages, with different races including foreigners,
and some were wearing civilian clothes while some were in remand
prisoner's clothes (white T-shirt and long brown pants with transport
jelly slippers). By my estimation, the cell measured about 350 sqf.
.
My
mind was lost and I felt nervous. I could feel the others’ eyes laying
on me. My mind was in a whirl and I did not know what was coming next. I
could only stand alone at one corner, quietly observing the
surroundings around me. There were others who were just like me, looking
lost and nervous from their facial expression. Some of them were
sitting down quietly on the floor while some were chatting with each
other happily.
.
Soon, I was approached by one of the cell
mates (age about mid 40s, skinny, and with tattoos on his right arm) and
we started chatting. He was a repeat convict (third timer) and I could
surely say that he was one of the ones who made me feel relieved. He
told me what would be coming next and other information/advices which I
thought would be quite useful to me when I reached Changi Prison Complex
(CPC). He was being charged under a drug case. I was really surprised
that the first offender that I had ever spoken to was such an easy going
and friendly guy which I was something that I would never had expected!
.
Time passed by slowly and soon, one officer came and
ordered us to get in-line of two rows. We did as what was being told.
Thereafter, we were being escorted to another large empty room to have
our legs shackled. With our hands cuffed and legs shackled, we were then
being escorted to the car park and made to enter a prison vehicle. By
my estimation, it could contain about forty prisoners per vehicle. The
interior was fully sealed, and there were no windows! We sat down in an
orderly manner and from then on, I knew that we were on our way to the
prison now!
Introduction.
Dear
readers, my name is Jer, known as ''Áh Bee'' during my days in
prison. I am the founder of Singapore Prison Stories (SPS). I am an
ex-convict who has served my jail term from July 2011 to August 2011. I
was imprisoned in CPC (Changi Prison Complex) for a month, and served
the remaining of my sentence under PPP (Home Detention Program).
Throughout my 'short' two months of incarceration and the home
detention program, I have come across and met a number of ex-convicts
who have committed all types of offences. They shared with me their
backgrounds and personal stories, all of which have taught me so much,
and made me better understand and appreciate the meaning of life itself.
.
Being
inspired by these people who have supported and helped me get through
my life in prison, I have decided to leave my past behind and start life
afresh. I wanted to create an avenue for which people can relate to;
whether they are prisoners, ex-prisoners, or even the convicted ones who
have no one to turn to for advices. By creating SPS, I hope to bring
about awareness to the prisoner support community. In SPS, we have a
forum which discusses these issues. Ex-prisoners are encouraged to step
forward to share with the community their experiences and thoughts. For
issues plaguing a person who is soon entering jail, he may turn to the
SPS’s forum, where the community (and even moderators) will try to help
him with his queries.
.
Although I am still struggling with
debts after my release, I am no longer in depression. I have finally
found and understand the real meaning of life and regained back my
strength and confidence to face the realities of life again,
all thanks to my short stint in prison, the solace and support provided
by my family and the inmates/officers that I have met in CPC.
.
I
sincerely hope that my life story here can actually help out any of you
readers or the people around you. Think twice before you commit a crime
and always be prepared to face the consequences – jail time, caning, a
fine, and even the social stigma when you are released. Committing a
crime is always never a necessity, but an option. You have the power to choose.
.
. Chapter 1.1: What I had done
.
I
have always been living with my parents and I can say that I have a
close-knit and beloved family. I have my own stable and decent business
which I have been spending many years to build up. For the past
twenty-eight years, I have been leading a decent lifestyle.
.
Like
most of the readers here, I have always told myself and the people
around me that I will not engage in anything which is illegal.
.
One fine day, tragedy struck. After the opening of the Casino
in Marina Bay Sands (MBS), my life was destroyed. Drawn by greed, I
lost everything (my savings, my company, my lifestyle) within the months
that I had spent in MBS. Needless to say, I ended up committing a crime
due to financial issues.
.
I did not try to hide or escape
after I had committed the crime. I was already mentally prepared to face
the consequences. I turned myself in the next day after I had committed
the crime.
.
One month from the day that I had provided my
incriminating statement, I was summoned to the Subordinate Court by my
IO from the Cantonment Police Station. My case was a direct one, as I
had decided to plead guilty without hiring a lawyer and going through
the appeal process. I wanted to receive my punishment as soon as
possible so that I could end it once and for all.
.
. Chapter 1.2: Arriving at the Subordinate Court
.
I
turned up with my family members at the Subordinate Court, Courtroom 26
(as ordered by my IO) at 9 A.M. sharp for my court hearing. When I
entered Courtroom 26, it was already full of people and the trial had
just started. I was not alone; there were about forty plus people
(including the remand prisoners) awaiting their hearing. My whole
waiting and hearing process took about 2 hours.
.
When my
turn came, I was ordered by the judge to attend Courtroom 10 at 2.30
P.M. (on the very same day) to wait for my sentence after I had plead
guilty to the judge during my hearing.
.
Just like anyone
else who was attending court for the very first time in their life, it
was a very tense, stressful, and nervous moment for me. It was an
unfathomable feeling. But something that made my heart swell up with
gratitude and pride was the support and accompaniment of my family. They
were there when I needed them most, and they stayed with me till the
very last moment!
. Advices & Information
. 1. If you are prepared to plead guilty on the day that you attend court, you will be sent to jail on the very same day itself. . 2.
If you plead guilty on the same day that you attend court, try not to
bring a cash amount of more than $300. The prison will only refund you
back in cheque upon your release if the monetary amount declared exceeds
$300 . 3.
If you are wearing spectacles, do get yourself a black plastic-made
framed spectacle as the prison does not allow other types of
material-made spectacle frame. (You are only allowed to wear for the
first 3 weeks of your lock-up) . 4.
Make sure you have a heavy lunch before you attend your final sentence
as you will mostly be sent to Changi Prison Complex (CPC) in the late
evening. Prison will only serve bread for dinner at night.
.
As
ordered, I arrived at Courtroom 10 at 2.30 P.M. sharp for my final
sentence. I was not alone; there were three people seated at the waiting
area, awaiting their sentences.
.
Upon the arrival of the
judge (Female/ Chinese/ Mid-Thirties), everyone in the court stood up
and made a bow (as a sign of respect), and sat down again.
. I had committed an offence pertaining to Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT) which was charged under Section 408.
.
I
pleaded guilty, and the judge sentenced me to a jail term of one month
including a fine which amounted to $8,000. Defaulting on the fine would
result me in serving an additional four weeks.
.
My total
jail term was one month and four weeks, as I could not pay the fine. But
I still felt relieved as I was expecting a three to five months jail
term. Soon I was handcuffed by the officer, this being the first time in
my whole life!
.
When I got handcuffed, my mind became a
total blank. Nothing registered in my mind at all. At that very
sorrowful moment, I could feel the pain that my family members had
suffered. The tears that they shed made it even worse for me, for my
actions had caused them great distress.
.
Please think again
before you commit a crime! In Singapore, you can run but you cannot
hide forever. When you commit a crime, you are not only destroying
yourself, but you are also hurting all those whom have always shown love
and concern to you! They are the ones suffering the most when you get
caught and sentenced to jail!
.
. Chapter 1.3: The lock-up at Subordinate Court
.
Once
the court was dismissed, I was escorted by the police officers to a
side exit. Eyes filled with sorrow, I could only turn my head towards my
family to have my last look and our goodbyes were communicated through
our eyes as I was not allowed to maintain verbal contact with them.
.
While
being escorted, I walked through a narrow passage and passed a
staircase. Finally, I reached the basement where the lock-up cell rooms
were located. I was soon brought to a room where there were others like
me, being handcuffed. Turn by turn, we surrendered our belongings, had
our height and weight measured, and had our thumb printed on some
documents ( No signature allowed). I was later brought to one of the
lock-up cells after I was done.
.
The lightings in the cell
room were dim and the walls were full of fingerprint markings. It was
not very stuffy as there was air-conditioning. There was a toilet
attached within the cell room but was it did not provide a sense of
privacy, as there were no doors to prevent people from peeking in.
.
I
was not alone in the cell room! There were about twenty other people,
and they include all ages, with different races including foreigners,
and some were wearing civilian clothes while some were in remand
prisoner's clothes (white T-shirt and long brown pants with transport
jelly slippers). By my estimation, the cell measured about 350 sqf.
.
My
mind was lost and I felt nervous. I could feel the others’ eyes laying
on me. My mind was in a whirl and I did not know what was coming next. I
could only stand alone at one corner, quietly observing the
surroundings around me. There were others who were just like me, looking
lost and nervous from their facial expression. Some of them were
sitting down quietly on the floor while some were chatting with each
other happily.
.
Soon, I was approached by one of the cell
mates (age about mid 40s, skinny, and with tattoos on his right arm) and
we started chatting. He was a repeat convict (third timer) and I could
surely say that he was one of the ones who made me feel relieved. He
told me what would be coming next and other information/advices which I
thought would be quite useful to me when I reached Changi Prison Complex
(CPC). He was being charged under a drug case. I was really surprised
that the first offender that I had ever spoken to was such an easy going
and friendly guy which I was something that I would never had expected!
.
Time passed by slowly and soon, one officer came and
ordered us to get in-line of two rows. We did as what was being told.
Thereafter, we were being escorted to another large empty room to have
our legs shackled. With our hands cuffed and legs shackled, we were then
being escorted to the car park and made to enter a prison vehicle. By
my estimation, it could contain about forty prisoners per vehicle. The
interior was fully sealed, and there were no windows! We sat down in an
orderly manner and from then on, I knew that we were on our way to the
prison now!
