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by Inmate » Sat, 27 Aug 2011 3:07 pm
Chapter 4.4: The ‘AWOL’ inmate at ‘Dayroom’
It was my first day of ‘DAYROOM’ activity. I am curious on how inmates spent their time throughout the 1 hour ‘DAYROOM’ activity. So I observed around, there is a ‘42’ inch plasma TV available for the inmates to watch recorded ‘old’ movies and documentaries. There are copies of chinese and English newspapers available for reading. Sadly to say that topics regarding politics, crimes, sex and women are all censored from the newspapers and the copies available are always 1 week back-dated. There are also board games and chess games available for the inmates.
There were about 120 inmates in dayroom 3 sharing only a few copies of newspapers and a few sets of chess/ board games. So as expected, most of the inmates spend time gathering around and chatting with each other while others will just sat at corners quietly waiting for the time to pass.
For me, I approached to one of my roommates who sat quietly at one corner and spent my time chatting with him alone throughout the 1 hour activity:
He is 6xx8, a young malay guy who aged only about 20 years old. He is the only one of my roommates whom are always quiet and seldom communicate to any of us in our cell room. He was sentenced to jail due to ‘AWOL’ ( Absent Without Official Leave) from his national service.
Now, I believe most of the readers may be wondering and thought that military offences should sentence to detention barrack (DB) instead. But do you know that for AWOL case:
If a person is absent for less than 14 days, it is considered AWOL case and it deal with DB which has no criminal record, but if a person is absent for 28 days or more, the person is considered a DESERTER and the person will have to serve time in CPC and there will be a criminal record
To be frank, I thought 6xx8 is just another brainless young teen when I get to know the ‘surface’ of his AWOL case during our first day lockup in cell room 629. But after he revealed to me more details about this case, I feel pity and sorry for him instead!
6xx8 stay with his mum and his younger sister who are still studying primary school. He come from a broken poor family and was dropped of school during secondary school. He also had a elder brother who are also currently serving his sentences in jail. He do not have much friends nor relatives. His mum, who is the sole breadwinner of the family, was sentenced to jail due to certain reasons while he served his remaining 3 months of national service. Leaving only him with his younger sister, he thought he got no other choices but to AWOL from National Service in order to work to earn more money to support themselves.
I actually have doubts in what he told me about his story in the beginning. But after I think again for a while, it may be the truth as I don’t think he is stupid enough to take the risk of AWOL, even at the last 3 months of his remaining national service.
Through this encounter, my concern is that while there are a lot of helpdesks and assistances from organizations/ communities which can assist him in solving his problems, but why he do not seem to know and approach any of it? Why did he choose to AWOL while he already know the consequences of doing it? Is he trying to get himself into jail purposely just to run away from his problems?
There are people including me whom choose to be quiet and bear the burdens all by themselves.
Trust me, I have learn my less! Open up your mind. Don’t feel embarrass! Try to share and ask advices from those whom are near to you. You may find answers and somehow enlighten your burdens in a different way!
Chapter 5: Prison’s Food Menu
To be continued
