"Captains of lives", "We are trained to look for the sparkles, not just the flaws", "Who says ex-convicts can't serve society with conviction."
So croons the website of the Singapore Prison Service. With such enlightened wit, one would expect our prisons to be institutions beyond reproach. And yet, the adage that what you see is not what you get remains frustratingly true.
During Mr Jufri Salim's recent incarceration at the Queenstown Remand Prison, he witnessed an officer kicking two inmates just because they were slow to respond when their prison numbers were called. One tripped and almost fell.
"Can't you hear me calling you?" he cursed at them in Malay.
The officer, a Staff Sergeant, was also heard scolding another remandee: "Eh stupid, you don't know how to get in line?"
Captains of lives? Not with the way these prisoners are treated.
This isn't to say that all prison officers behave in such a degenerate manner. There are officers who act professionally and with decorum.
But this should not excuse the bad apples that treat prisoners in ways that degrade and brutalise. And this was an incident where Mr Jufri chanced upon. What of the instances that are not witnessed?
"I was very disturbed when I saw this happening," Mr Jufri told the SDP, "Although these people may have committed offences, they are still human and should be treated as one."
The prison sevice must look into this matter and ensure that its officers are adequately trained and that inmates are not abused, physically or psychologically.
More than that, the public must be assured that the Service practices the professionalism it preaches. Mechanisms must be put in place to allow the public to monitor the state of the prison system especially where the treatment of prisoners is concerned.
Wed 11 Mar 2009 11:06 AM
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AnnA - I HATE BULLIES!!
God Damn It! :(
Those inmates are serving sentences as a form of punishment and still get extra treatment??
Highlight this issues. I can't imagine how juvenile inmates are treated.. This is worrying. Kids won't know their rights. Example is there to see that lots of normal Singaporean doesn't even know their rights at all, rights to speak!
Wed 11 Mar 2009 4:15 PM
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Gopalan Nair
It is essential in this case to identify the offending officer by name and rank. When I was sent to that prison for criticizing Judge Belinda Ang Saw Ean in my blog Singapore Dissident for acting at the behest of Lee Kuan Yew in his defamation case against Dr. Chee Soon Juan, there was a Seargent Azmi who was seen yelling at the top of his voice to prisoners and with an insulting tone.
Jufrie, could you provide the name. This would be useful.
Gopalan Nair
Very Proudly
Former Prisoner No: 101232008
Lee Kuan Yew's Queenstown Prison
Singapore
Wed 11 Mar 2009 4:27 PM
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tan
from a pyscological point of view, these prison wardens have social shortcomings like: pri school education, being kicked around by their wives or girlfriends, impotent, drug addicts,alcoholics, PAP supporters or just plain stupid.
Wed 11 Mar 2009 5:56 PM
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Tan Tai Wei
Isn't that a case of assault? Lodge a complain, or file a police report.
Wed 11 Mar 2009 7:24 PM
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Dick
Such abuse in prison is not uncommon, just that no once really report it.
Inmates have no rights, no voice, no dignity,they suffer in silence.
Many of them are over stayer, some try to make a living here and was con by agent that they have employment.
Many injustice in Singapore, Good that SDP and their supporter go to where hell is and come back to expose them.
WE ARE INDEED, DISNEY LAND WITH A DEATH SENTENCE.
Wed 11 Mar 2009 10:23 PM
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angry_one
this is odd, my sources tell me a different story.
All accounts i heard are that the wardens are AT THE MERCY of inmates. Because inmate feedback is a part of their appraisal, some go all out to make inmates like them, and so inmates can do many things with impunity.
Mon 16 Mar 2009 7:39 AM
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wayne
wow,i din know now they value inmate feedback. is that a recent evaluation system due to recession?
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