Convicts come clean in car wash

PATHUM THANI: -- “Bambad Car Care” in Pathum Thani is no ordinary car-wash outlet. All of its workers are prison inmates, who work in their usual prison attire of light blue shirt and dark shorts.

Located just outside the Special Rehabilitation and Correctional Institution, it is a prison demonstration business, staffed entirely by workers from behind bars.

The outlet was officially opened by Justice Minister Suwat Liptapanlop a week ago.

“Bambad” is a shortened form of a word meaning rehabilitation institution.

The prison’s male convicts with “good behaviour” and less than two years of time to serve, offer to clean cars for just Bt49 per vehicle – a cheap price even in a highly competitive market. The price includes waxing the exterior and cleaning the seats.

And, of course, they work under the watchful eyes of prison guards.

“Customers don’t have to worry about their safety,” prison director Pongmit Prasertsakul said yesterday. “The workers here are among our best convicts, whose terms are nearly completed, and prison guards watch over them all the time.

“Our workers are well trained to take good care of vehicles. They won’t scratch your cars.”

Pongmit said the business, which was as well equipped as any other car-wash outlet, was part of the Department of Corrections’ policy of providing inmates with vocational skills that would benefit them after they completed their terms. Car care was one of a variety of vocational skills taught at the prison.

A share of income from the business was deposited in the convicts’ names and they would receive the money upon completing their terms.

The prison chief said that if the business proved successful, it would be expanded to offer additional services, including freshly-brewed coffee and foot massaging, giving inmates an opportunity to practise other vocational skills taught at the prison.

Civil servant Sunan Lapvej, 52, admitted to being a bit concerned when he first used the Bambad Car Care service.

“I was afraid that one of the convicts might drive my car away,” he said. “But I found that they were very polite and prison guards took very strict measures; they drove the customers’ vehicles themselves.”

Sunan said he now preferred the place because there were many workers, it was inexpensive and the equipment was of high quality.

University student Namchokchai Khamsod, another satisfied customer, said that despite the increasing popularity of Bambad Car Care, he found he didn’t have to wait long wait because of the large number of workers.

One of the convicts working at the outlet said he planned to open a car-care business when he completed his term.

“My fellow inmates and I are happy that our service brings back customers,” he said.

--The Nation 2005-06-20

A second chance.

Hope it is not because of over crowded prison.

Seems very progressive. Hope there is no catch.