Prisons Chief Vows Crackdown After Inmate Has Photo Posted On Facebook

[Lite Beer]

Prisons chief vows crackdown after inmate has photo posted on Facebook
The Nation on Sunday

A Facebook account shows photos of an inmate in Phitsanulok prison.

A Phitsanulok prisoner who managed to have a picture of himself in chains posted on Facebook after transmitting it via a cell-phone - a prohibited item for inmates - will be punished along with those who supplied the device, Corrections Department chief Suchart Wong-anantachai vowed.

As Phitsanulok Prison hadn't yet been declared a "white prison" - meaning free from drugs and other prohibited items, and equipped with phone signal-scrambling equipment - inmates there could still find ways to get online, Suchart said.

As a result he urged officials to be stricter about screening and searching cell blocks for prohibited items. As for the punishment for the inmate in question, he said a fact-finding panel would be set up to probe this case before deciding on disciplinary or criminal punishments.

Following criticism of prison authorities, the Facebook page was not accessible yesterday.

The inmate was identified as rape convict Mawin Sompanwong, 28, who is held in Zone 5 of Phitsanulok Prison.

Prison director Pongmit Prasertsakul said Mawin, who was jailed for five years in 2008, was due for release on November 1. Pongmit said that since taking up his post on April 4 he had eyed making this prison a "white prison".

He regularly launched impromptu cell-block searches, but there were still some blind spots where people hid cell phones for inmates, and the cell-phone signal-scrambling device there only worked occasionally, he said.

-- The Nation 2013-04-28

[NongKhaiKid]

Another fine statement using one of the regular stock phrases of " vows crackdown " but it could be one of many. Funny how much illegal activity goes on in prison, other they are all convicted criminals, but how many of the staff are complicit ? Bit of a stupid question I know.

[noitom]

Now they are "vowing" another crackdown. They were promising, ensuring, and enforcing. Now they just vowing. Boy Oh boy these Thais. When will the newspaper stop publishing this tripe and start investigating the corrupt prison officials and calling them out? When a few prison officials are hauled off in chains and tried in a public court and jailed if guilty, then we can expect change in illegal contraband phones in prison. It falls to the press to push it.

[BrianCR]

"and the cell-phone signal-scrambling device there only worked occasionally, he said."

Were they purchased from the same Brit that sold them the bomb detector devises?

[Scott]

I am not a big Facebook person, but how did they manage to get the page taken down? It might be against the rules of the prison, but it wouldn't be against the regulations for Facebook, would it?

[Artisi]

Now they are "vowing" another crackdown. They were promising, ensuring, and enforcing. Now they just vowing. Boy Oh boy these Thais. When will the newspaper stop publishing this tripe and start investigating the corrupt prison officials and calling them out? When a few prison officials are hauled off in chains and tried in a public court and jailed if guilty, then we can expect change in illegal contraband phones in prison. It falls to the press to push it.

Investigate, charge and imprison goal officials, only ever in your dreams. Far too much money involved from the top down for any change to take place.

But you are correct, the whole system needs taking down and restructured with honest, law abiding officials, I know, I know, only in my dreams.

Edited April 28, 2013 by Artisi

[slapout]

"and the cell-phone signal-scrambling device there only worked occasionally, he said."

Were they purchased from the same Brit that sold them the bomb detector devises?

They only turn the scrambling device off, when required allotment of the inmates have paid the prison employees for the rental telphones they have in hand.

[kimamey]

I am not a big Facebook person, but how did they manage to get the page taken down? It might be against the rules of the prison, but it wouldn't be against the regulations for Facebook, would it?

You may be right but I assume the inmate could take it down himself which may be a good move on his part. I think Facebook sometimes block pages while they're investigating any complaints so this may be temporary.

It's very difficult to stop this type of thing completely and is a problem in other countries as well. There are so many way to conceal things and then pass them over that the only way is the old glass screen and intercom. It's a bit tough on those on the outside who are denied contact.

Of course there's always the possibility of corrupt prison warders as well.

Edited April 28, 2013 by kimamey

[Locationthailand]

He looks like he is dressed to be the meat in the sandwich... 10 points for getting the pic on FB. Classic ...

[FarangTalk]

The page is blocked by MCOT.

[EyesWideOpen]

Great stuff !!! Are we on prison phone crackdown number three or number four?? Sigh, so hard to keep track..... Could TV please have a list of crackdowns so we could more easily keep track ??

[hellodolly]

Another fine statement using one of the regular stock phrases of " vows crackdown " but it could be one of many. Funny how much illegal activity goes on in prison, other they are all convicted criminals, but how many of the staff are complicit ? Bit of a stupid question I know.

Not really.

How did he get the chains no one else had them on.

[Payboy]

He regularly launched impromptu cell-block searches, but there were still some blind spots where people hid cell phones for inmates, and the cell-phone signal-scrambling device there only worked occasionally, he said.

Most of those "blind spots" are behind 1000 baht notes, I guess.

[Confuscious]

The page is blocked by MCOT.

While the page itself may be blocked by MCOT, the shared pictures are spread all around on FaceBook and the Internet.

I have the shared pictures on my Facebook timeline.

No way to stop that.

[technologybytes]

I am confused. The story says he was sentenced in 2008 for 5 years and due to be released in November. Yet in the photo he is wearing a chain attached to his legs.. my understanding is that the chains are only worn in the first month or two of ones sentence..

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

[Naroge]

With his release date in sight it might not have been the smartest idea to openly violate the prison rules. Doubt he'll see daylight before next Songkran.

[corkythecat]

I am confused. The story says he was sentenced in 2008 for 5 years and due to be released in November. Yet in the photo he is wearing a chain attached to his legs.. my understanding is that the chains are only worn in the first month or two of ones sentence..

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Sprinters will use iron anklets-weights to strengthen their legs at all times. Perhaps this guy is an athlete or a potential "runner".

[mancub]

His next profile pic update will most likely depict him in hospital !

[Falcon]

Yet in the photo he is wearing a chain attached to his legs.. my understanding is that the chains are only worn in the first month or two of ones sentence..

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

The can be put in chains for making problems or disobeying the guards or even if found with things like cellphones, drugs, etc. this thing with the cellphones will never stop, the guards make too much money with it. For example, a simple Nokia phone will cost anything from 60,000 baht, a phone with a web browser costs around 200,000 baht, iPhone 4 is sold in the prisons for 350,000 - 400,000 baht + !! With these kind of figures, how could it stop? It's just impossible. This is not the only thing that goes on that makes the guards money of course, there is the private rooms in bang Kwan, offered to the prisoners @ 10,000 baht a week and, believe it or not, you are allowed to have (buy) anything you want to go in there, sofa, chairs, plasma tv and DVD player, cooker, etc. it sounds unbelievable but it is genuinely available if you are able to pay. I know someone in there (bang Kwan) who calls me occasionally from his private cell who tells me that, as everyone, he was scared of the thai prison system before he went in but now he's seen how it really is, he has I fear of it so will do anything he wants if/when he gets out. Luckily (for him) he is from Sweden so, although he got life (commuted from death sentence) he will be sent back to Sweden, through the bi-lateral agreement after 8 years to serve the rest of his sentence there (he will serve only an extra 6 months in Sweden before being released). As he says, as long as you have money, thai prisons are better than the European ones As everything is available (except your freedom of course!) I would rather be clean and not have any problem here but everyone to their own I suppose.

[Fullstop]

What's wrong with posting pics on FB? What have they got to hide? They're not doing anything shameful are they?: Surely not!

[JulesMad]

Promises, promises, promises.... I doubt if there is anyone in Thailand (Thai or Farang) who believes in them

[how241]

He regularly launched impromptu cell-block searches, but there were still some blind spots where people hid cell phones for inmates, and the cell-phone signal-scrambling device there only worked occasionally, he said.

Most of those "blind spots" are behind 1000 baht notes, I guess.

+1

[Bluespunk]

He only got five years for rape?

[Fullstop]

He only got five years for rape?

The woman was probably someone of "low status" in thai officialdom's eyes. i.e dark skin, Lao, Cambodian, street sweeper etc.

[rikkie]

Why they complain DSI, Police are using facebook now why not in Jails let other people see how good its in there 555555

[Fullstop]

Why they complain

They obviously indulge in shameful practices. They know it, and do not wish the general public to be aware of what a disgrace they are. Basically it's the old 'face saving' at work again.

[Payboy]

I couldn't post on his wall because of all the barbed wire.

[scorecard]

What's wrong with posting pics on FB? What have they got to hide? They're not doing anything shameful are they?: Surely not!

People are jailed as punishment, some for a few days, some for life.

Rape is a hideous crime, often leaving the victim with mental scars / fears of intimate contact for life. IMHO rapists should get serious punishment.

Part of the punishment is denial of various freedoms, including some level

of isolation from society.

Why?

- Punishment for the crime committed

- To try to diswade people from further offences on release - the fear of re-entering jail.

- To try to diswade others from committing offences - the fear of jail.

I don't suggest prisoners should be cut off from family, but I do believe that

part of punishment should be some level of isolation from society, for the reasons stated.

[Fullstop]

What's wrong with posting pics on FB? What have they got to hide? They're not doing anything shameful are they?: Surely not!

People are jailed as punishment, some for a few days, some for life.

Rape is a hideous crime

So is the inability to detect sarcasm.

[bri1guy]

he looks pretty happy in prison, maybe this will be evidence to keep him in there longer now.. Mr Mawin Sompanwong now has many more friend requests..