Prison Stories

[VintageTQ]

What exactly is the OP's problem.?

Didn't read all the posts but fairly sure he's from the states

Clearly your the one with the problem. And im fairly sure you are either French or English. Both equally obnoxious

[MAJIC]

"In Thailand deportation doesn’t mean that you get deported because you have broken the law, or are not welcome. Not at all… It’s because of expired Visas, or work permits, or because of no

documentation at all."

"...expired Visas, or work permits, or because of no documentation at all."

You don't consider those things breaking the law?

Can you tell us why you were in jail?

Terry

Agreed, this guy seems to thinks he's nelson mandela or something because he spent a few weeks in the clink; probably for having weed or something......

I make it 7.5 months,and no need to belittle the man,especially as he has not said yet what he was in Jail for!

Hands up if you could as easily have served his time?

[mrtoad]

It's certainly a different type of post away from my TGF ripped me off, my TGF is really a lady boy, and is the word Farang offensive? If people don't want to read it, then they don't have to.

[Rsquared]

@ Star Dust.....I still have chills after reading your OP.

I agree with you that the general tourist has no idea with what goes on behind the scenes in whatever country they visit.

Thank you for sharing with us, and I can only wish you well in your recovery from this traumatic experience. I know the nightmares will be suppressed for a while, but they will come.

Take Care.

Cheers.

[wooloomooloo]

MAJIC, I can't quote as on app, but OP states he was arrested for an accident whilst under the influence in which a Thai broke his little finger. It went rapidly downhill after that.

[lovelaos]

Interesting read, keep posting.

It just occurred to me that recently I could've been in serious trouble for overstaying for just a few days. I did so knowing full well the consequences, stupid thing to do yeah but took the risk.

The border police had a laugh when I got to the border and apologised for staying in their country illegally for a few days and joked that I just couldn't leave as Thai women are so beautiful.

Had I been stopped and searched before the border I would probably have been locked up in DC

[Star Dust]

Now a freeman again, and back home in the Eesan, I thought to post a couple of chapters from the texts I've written while I was a prisoner in Thailand in 2011 and 2012, and I encourage everyone who has a similar experiences to join me doing so. I don't want to bother you with horror stories and daily life in prison, but there are some interesting topics I came along.

None of this is fictional and has happened exactly the way I will describe it. If anyone feels offended by his, I must apologize in advance, for it
is the truth and nothing but the truth. You’re welcome to comment or criticize, and/or ask for more.

Original Text:

The author got himself into the
situation of what this very text is about, due to the fact that he lacks a full
complement of brain cells, but that’s OK with him. Please warn people
about the consequences if they get caught on an Overstayed Visa. Thank you.

IDC Bangkok

There are still arguments about what IDC stands for. Some say Immigration Detention Center, some say International Detention Center.

What does it matter what it means? All, I can tell you is what is going on in there.

After 223 days in a southern prison, 29 days in a policestation on Kho Samui, 31 days in a police station in Surrathani, 5 days in the Ranong Immigration Police Station I finally was transported to the infamous IDC Facility in Bangkok, Sathorn Tai Road.

Now, coming from a Thai prison, and numerous police stations, I had the pleasure of residing at for some time, I thought that
coming to IDC is going to be more of a relieve. I got the cash in my pocket (underwear) and my passport, so I’m just waiting for my Embassy to visit me, surely tomorrow, pay for a ticket (one-way) to Vienna, and off I am. My emotional state was that I was almost crying, so happy I was. But that was about to change very quickly.

Before I start you must keep in mind that the people jailed in the IDC are not criminals. No court sentenced them because of any criminal
act. There are whole families as well as children with the age of about new born to 10 years old. I’ve met man, women, children, and families who have been in there for 3,5,8 years, or more. They also separate the families. The only chance for them to meet the beloved ones is if some people from outside the jail visit them. For each prisoner there must be one visitor. Visitors and imprisoned people meet in an area inside the prison, so the families can meet there and they are distracted from the everyday live in prison for one hour. During the visits prisoners and visitors are 10 meters apart, separated by two fences, each on one side, shouting at each other in order to communicate. Now imagine 50-100 people shouting at each other at the same time. Visitors are
allowed to bring food. Only food.

Ok, then. Let’s begin. This is what I have seen there.

At first, we were to queue up in the yard. First thing I noticed was that the entire facility was build like a fortress. There is even a roof over it, to make sure no one can see outwards or inwards for that matter. From the outside it looks like an apartment building.

We were stripped naked, searched, including a cavity search, and our belongings taken from us. All of it. We were told to kneel down, and
cross our hands behind our necks. We were told to take one short, and one t-shirt from our belongings back, and to put them on. My money, which was discovered of course, was taken by the guards. All the Asian prisoners were slapped in the face, or hit, or kicked, including the women, and some of the elderly children, as to say; “You don’t dare come back to my country.” While they did so they repeated the same word over and over again. “Sut”, and there
flew a backhand, “Sut”, and that went on till they were done. You see:“Sut” means animal. At first I thought these are guards, but they were young men dressed in civil clothes, and then I realized that they were trainees from the Immigration Police Academy, at least it said so on their badges which they had hanging around their necks, and I was proven to be right.

I wasn’t slapped in the face. To this day, I don’t know why.

Then, came the speech. The speech was in Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and English. For each language, a different trainee.

“If you attempt to escape this facility, we will shoot you”. “If you survive your attempt to escape, you will be sentenced to 20 years in prison, without amnesty (King’s pardon).”

A real Immigration officer came up to me and asked me to stand up and follow him. He led me into the main office. It was huge. I was given my cash back with the advice to put it with the police, which I declined politely. At that point I asked for my underwear back to stuff the cash in, and I was granted my wish with laughter. Then I was given a recite for my belongings (a backpack containing one Jean, one shirt, one pair of socks, and a toothbrush). After that headshots were taken, and that was the 100^th time by the way. My fingerprints were taken again , 100^th time as well. I think if you need my headshot, you could go to any police station in Thailand,
and just ask for one.

In that main office I saw a large board on the wall, with a list of 30 cells, separated into 2 buildings,with 5 floors in each building. I figured that IDC is not such a big facility.
The normal standard prison cell in Thailand is 5x5, or 7x7 meters, with 20-30 prisoners in each cell. This place was not out in the open, so I guessed 5x5 meter cells. I quickly did the math and figured 600 – 900 prisoners. So a small prison really. I was about to be proven wrong again. When the officer saw that I concentrated on that board and read it, I was quickly led back into the yard and told to kneel down again.

I tried to ask questions, but they were ignored.

Out in the yard the officer approached me again. Apparently he had forgotten to ask me an important question. Me kneeling on the ground,
with my arms crossed behind my head, staring on the ground.

Officer:“Where do you come from?

Me:”Austria.”

Officer:”Ah... Australia?”

Me:”No, Austria is in EUROPE.”

Officer:”What?”
Me:”A-U-S-T-R-R-R-R-R-I-A.”
Officer:”Ahh….A-U-S-T-R-R-R-R-I-A”. “Why you speak English same English people?”
Me:”My father was from England”
Officer:”What? Your father from England? You fromAustrrrrrrria? And you live in Thailand?” Me:”Yes”.
Officer:”I don’t believe”.

And then he just walked off, and I never saw him again.

At least the author is not the only one who lacks a full complement of brain cells,

After that the “guards” led us into a cell, which had approx. 50 square meters, and was packed with people from all sorts of
countries. Westerners, Arabs, Africans, Asians, and South Americans (Columbians). I wouldn’t have been surprised meeting an lonesome Eskimo in there. It was the cell for all the new arrivals, and we were to wait there until they figured out where each of us came from, and our IDC ID Cards were ready, and in which cell to put us in.

And then I saw it. All over the walls, in every language, was the same sentence written over and over again. It looked like someone who
knew this place started it by writing it on the wall, and all the other people started copying this very sentence in their own native language onto that wall. It said:

“
Welcome to IDC – IDC is Hell on Earth”

Now that is what I call a nice welcome. For me it was just like escaping one hell, and enter another. I didn’t take that sentence serious at all. Yeah, right. Hell on Earth? I just came out of a Thai prison where
I got used to starvation, thirst, and violence on a daily bases. Where it was normal, to share a 5x5 meter cell with 30 prisoners, 16 hours a day. I got money up my ass (underwear), and was ready to pay my way out. IDC? HELL? Piece of cake, I thought to myself.

After a couple of hours they got me out of that “new arrival cell”, and brought me up on the second floor in building 2, to “Room 7”.
It was midnight by now. Each floor had a hallway consisting of 3, by fences separated aisles. The outer aisle, where the windows towards the inner yard were, the middle aisle, and the inner aisle where the cell doors were. All doors opened by finger-print-scan. There were 3 rooms on that floor. “Room 7” was the one in the middle. The door was a massive and thick steel door, just like the ones
used for cooling storages in slaughter houses. When the door opened I couldn’t believe my eyes.

The rooms are no rooms at all. They are super-sized cells. 15 meters long and 4 meters wide. At one end a large tank for showers and three
Thai style toilets. No doors, nothing, just one big, open space. Next to the water tank was a small separated room with a blanket covering its door. There were no windows, except one small opening of 30x30 cm next to that single separated room. The heat in that cell was so extreme that I had difficulties breathing at first. I felt the air burning into my skin.

With me, there were 134 prisoners in “Room 7”.

That didn’t look like I was going home, any time soon, at all. That means that there are thousands of prisoners in here. Then I remembered that sentence on that wall downstairs, and thought to myself: “Damn, IDC is Hell on Earth.”

To be continued…

[2008bangkok]

MAJIC, I can't quote as on app, but OP states he was arrested for an accident whilst under the influence in which a Thai broke his little finger. It went rapidly downhill after that.

Click the poster name should pop up with the option o quote, I'm on iPhone app now

[onnut]

Good read, thanks. Keep it coming.

[USNret]

Awesome story. Thanks for sharing it.

[guzzi850m2]

Yes it's a very interesting story indeed and one of the best I read in a long time here.

It's must give the negative/bashers poster's something to think about, OP Star Dust have just been though "mini hell" and he is still in Thailand and haven't chosen to leave.

Well done Star Dust

Lessons learnt: Don't drive when over the limit and don't overstay.

[prestburypark]

Can't imagine going through this myself, well done for surviving it and letting us know what awaits a <deleted> up.

I will be making sure i do not ...or at least I will try not to xxxx up. I find surviving on Thai food and not having Aircon hard enough in the real world, but I guess I'm just a softie.

I was slated on here some years ago when I tried to visit a prisoner and took stuff to alleviate his discomfort, not much kindness around , and loads of judgement.

Edited February 28, 2013 by metisdead

[canman]

Enjoying the read. Shows really just how much of a brutal 3rd world country Thailand is.

[watcharacters]

I liked the story, forget the ramblings of the overly judgemental 'hang'em high' brigade.

This board does have its share of genuinely righteous members.

[pluto_manibo]

Thank you Stardust for sharing your story, as to the others on the board who feel the need to judge and criticise....you disgust me!

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the second part of your story. I never realized how bad the situation at the IDC was. Must have been a terrible time for you.

[Star Dust]

Many thanks to those who appreciate the truth.

I'll keep posting, for I'm not afraid. I'll continue on IDC on Saturday.

< Thai script removed >

Edited February 28, 2013 by metisdead
: This is the English side of the forum, if you want to post in Thai, you can do so in the Thai language forum.

[Thailand2012]

great reading good work keep them coming i hope it is all a distant memory for you 1 day.

[coolhandjoe]

@ Star Dust.....I still have chills after reading your OP.

I agree with you that the general tourist has no idea with what goes on behind the scenes in whatever country they visit.

Thank you for sharing with us, and I can only wish you well in your recovery from this traumatic experience. I know the nightmares will be suppressed for a while, but they will come.

Take Care.

Cheers.

Indeed +1

You are fortunate that you are young and less than a year time served can be put down to experience.

I know it might not seem like it now, but in a few years time this will be a distant memory.

So please share your stories and enjoy your liberty

[Spaniel]

Thanks for sharing. Will be looking forward to you next post.

[geriatrickid]

Ok, so let's recap: The OP was inebriated and crashed his vehicle into a 3rd party. The 3rd party suffered a physical injury.

The OP ended up in jail.

Yes, the conditions the OP reports are rather grim. However, adults that drink and drive and then injure other people should be prepared for such consequences.

Had the other person been a TVFer or a TVFer family member, I doubt there would be any sympathy.

I don't doubt for a minute some of the inhumanity and lack of professionalism cited. It cannot be justified, Unfortunately, we all know that such a situation is part of Thailand. Some people are quite prepared to accept such conditions. I'm not and don't think the conditions while in custody are acceptable. Again, unfortunately, that is the way it is in most of the world. The only way to avoid such treatement is;

1. Don't drive drunk and crash injuring someone in Thailand or,

2. Stay in Austria where the prison conditions are better so that the next time you are drunk and hit someone, you have a nicer stay.

Edited March 1, 2013 by geriatrickid

[bunnaag]

What exactly is the OP's problem.?

Didn't read all the posts but fairly sure he's from the states

He wrote: "Finally the Austrian Embassy was allowed to pay me a visit to get the cash for the flight ticket."

an Austrian .I am not surprised.What is he complaining about?For him it was a home away from home

[candypants]

"but the only thing he could say in English was; “Heerro, what name you”?

If your story is true, it's remarkable "Aet" was able to learn enough English to convey such a story to you, having been working 16-hour days the whole of his time in Thailand, without any genuine exposure to westerners.

Maybe the OP can speak Thai.

I know a western guy who has been in Thai prisons (drugs offences), he came out speaking perfect Thai.

Deported at the end of his prison sentence, applied for new passport, returned immediately, still here.

Thailand doesn't really check incoming foreigners all that carefully.

one would think 9 months in jail would be a rather immersive language experience, but too many here have decided that the language is unfathomable and impossible to learn.

[DMC1]

Ok, so let's recap: The OP was inebriated and crashed his vehicle into a 3rd party. The 3rd party suffered a physical injury.

The OP ended up in jail.

Yes, the conditions the OP reports are rather grim. However, adults that drink and drive and then injure other people should be prepared for such consequences.

Had the other person been a TVFer or a TVFer family member, I doubt there would be any sympathy.

I don't doubt for a minute some of the inhumanity and lack of professionalism cited. It cannot be justified, Unfortunately, we all know that such a situation is part of Thailand. Some people are quite prepared to accept such conditions. I'm not and don't think the conditions while in custody are acceptable. Again, unfortunately, that is the way it is in most of the world. The only way to avoid such treatement is;

1. Don't drive drunk and crash injuring someone in Thailand or,

2. Stay in Austria where the prison conditions are better so that the next time you are drunk and hit someone, you have a nicer stay.

The guy is sharing his experiences. He knows he did wrong & I'm sure he doesn't need you to remind him of that. Let us enjoy the thread before you put him off posting.

[tominbkk]

Ok, so let's recap: The OP was inebriated and crashed his vehicle into a 3rd party. The 3rd party suffered a physical injury.

The OP ended up in jail.

Yes, the conditions the OP reports are rather grim. However, adults that drink and drive and then injure other people should be prepared for such consequences.

Had the other person been a TVFer or a TVFer family member, I doubt there would be any sympathy.

I don't doubt for a minute some of the inhumanity and lack of professionalism cited. It cannot be justified, Unfortunately, we all know that such a situation is part of Thailand. Some people are quite prepared to accept such conditions. I'm not and don't think the conditions while in custody are acceptable. Again, unfortunately, that is the way it is in most of the world. The only way to avoid such treatement is;

1. Don't drive drunk and crash injuring someone in Thailand or,

2. Stay in Austria where the prison conditions are better so that the next time you are drunk and hit someone, you have a nicer stay.

The guy is sharing his experiences. He knows he did wrong & I'm sure he doesn't need you to remind him of that. Let us enjoy the thread before you put him off posting.

That's what ProphylacticKid does best!

[TommoPhysicist]

Ok, so let's recap: The OP was inebriated and crashed his vehicle into a 3rd party. The 3rd party suffered a physical injury.

The OP ended up in jail.

Yes, the conditions the OP reports are rather grim. However, adults that drink and drive and then injure other people should be prepared for such consequences.

Had the other person been a TVFer or a TVFer family member, I doubt there would be any sympathy.

I don't doubt for a minute some of the inhumanity and lack of professionalism cited. It cannot be justified, Unfortunately, we all know that such a situation is part of Thailand. Some people are quite prepared to accept such conditions. I'm not and don't think the conditions while in custody are acceptable. Again, unfortunately, that is the way it is in most of the world. The only way to avoid such treatement is;

1. Don't drive drunk and crash injuring someone in Thailand or,

2. Stay in Austria where the prison conditions are better so that the next time you are drunk and hit someone, you have a nicer stay.

And yet a Thai law lecturer can beat the shit out of two Thai women in a public street and only pay compensation 1,000bht.

Edited March 1, 2013 by TommoPhysicist

[geriatrickid]

Ok, so let's recap: The OP was inebriated and crashed his vehicle into a 3rd party. The 3rd party suffered a physical injury.

The OP ended up in jail.

Yes, the conditions the OP reports are rather grim. However, adults that drink and drive and then injure other people should be prepared for such consequences.

Had the other person been a TVFer or a TVFer family member, I doubt there would be any sympathy.

I don't doubt for a minute some of the inhumanity and lack of professionalism cited. It cannot be justified, Unfortunately, we all know that such a situation is part of Thailand. Some people are quite prepared to accept such conditions. I'm not and don't think the conditions while in custody are acceptable. Again, unfortunately, that is the way it is in most of the world. The only way to avoid such treatement is;

1. Don't drive drunk and crash injuring someone in Thailand or,

2. Stay in Austria where the prison conditions are better so that the next time you are drunk and hit someone, you have a nicer stay.

And yet a Thai law lecturer can beat the shit out of two Thai women in a public street and only pay compensation 1,000bht.

Very different circumstances. However, don't let the law get in your way.

[yankee99]

Ok, so let's recap: The OP was inebriated and crashed his vehicle into a 3rd party. The 3rd party suffered a physical injury.

The OP ended up in jail.

Yes, the conditions the OP reports are rather grim. However, adults that drink and drive and then injure other people should be prepared for such consequences.

Had the other person been a TVFer or a TVFer family member, I doubt there would be any sympathy.

I don't doubt for a minute some of the inhumanity and lack of professionalism cited. It cannot be justified, Unfortunately, we all know that such a situation is part of Thailand. Some people are quite prepared to accept such conditions. I'm not and don't think the conditions while in custody are acceptable. Again, unfortunately, that is the way it is in most of the world. The only way to avoid such treatement is;

1. Don't drive drunk and crash injuring someone in Thailand or,

2. Stay in Austria where the prison conditions are better so that the next time you are drunk and hit someone, you have a nicer stay.

I dont see the op asking for sympathy. He admitted to his wrong doing served his time and is now sharing is story. OP pleaee keep posting

[Puyai]

I was looking forward to your Saturday update. Are you still posting? If not I won't bother looking out for it!!\

[lipupfatty]

I was looking forward to your Saturday update. Are you still posting? If not I won't bother looking out for it!!\

same here mate,hope to hear more soon.