Inmates Detail Life Inside One Of The World's Most Notorious Maximum Security Prisons

A new documentary sees inmates reveal what life is like inside of Singapore's maximum security prisons.

Set around the Changi Prison, the documentary follows six men who explain what their experience is like inside the facility.

The four-part series was shared on YouTube and sees the inmates day-to-day lives, from a professional skate boarder coming to terms with the loss of his career to an inmate counting down to his release 'using packets of snacks'.

@CNAInsider/YouTube

Senior official from the prison, Muhammad Shalih Bin Mahli, explains that the prison falls under the category B1, which means it is one of the maximum security prisons. According to Mahli, the prison holds 'about 500 plus inmates'.

The official goes on to explain that the cells inside the prison are 'special' because they are all 'single-man cells', where other facilities typically have 'three-man cells'.

Inmates inside the prison have to follow a cell layout, which explains where their toothbrush, mug and soap box should be placed, there are then inspected during a 'master check'.

Throughout the documentary, we are shown inside various cells, including one belonging to an inmate known as Khai, who was a professional skateboarder.

@CNAInsider/YouTube

The documentary reveals that this is Khai's sixth incarceration and that his offences were 'extortion', 'blackmail' and 'voluntarily causing hurt'. He was sentences to two years and five months; he is due for release in October 2022.

Speaking of the experience at the prison, Khai said "it's a one man cell and you are all alone in the cell. That loneliness, when you can't express yourself, when you need to talk to someone, you are stuck".

He went on to say that he feels he is a 'bad person' who 'made a lot of mistakes' and that he has to 'accept' his punishment.

Meanwhile another inmate, Boon Keng is on his fourth incarceration, his offences being 'theft', 'drug consumption', 'criminal breach of trust' and 'breach of Personal Protection Order'.

@CNAInsider/YouTube

He was sentenced to three years and six months at the facility and is due for release in July 2022.

The inmate explains how his days are spent reading and walking around the small cell and he noted that when he's bored he counts. Footage of Boon Keng's cell shows that the toilet and shower use the same drain in the facility, leaving inmates to stand over the toilet to wash.

Other inmates and the facility include Graceson, described as 'a gangster who manages to get himself a new tattoo in prison and duly caned for it'. In addition to Rusdi who has 50 days until his release.

The four-part documentary is now streaming on CNA Insider's YouTube channel.

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