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PHUKET: A new billion-baht prison for Phuket would be built to international standards, contain cells rather than dormitories and end concerns about human rights, a meeting of senior officials heard yesterday.
Although the budget has yet to be agreed by Cabinet, the 108 rai for a new prison capable of holding 3000 inmates has been set aside at Bang Jo, in Phuket's east. The population at the present 115-year old Phuket Prison in central Phuket City has swollen to 2000.
Only a small number of prisoners are from countries outside Thailand and Burma but the new prison would ease concern, most recently expressed in the bid by Briton Lee Aldhouse to avoid extradition to Phuket to face a murder charge, that Thailand's prisons are substandard.
Local village chiefs, Vice Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada , Minister of Justice Pracha Promnork and the Director of the Department of Corrections, General Suchart Wong-Ananchari joined Phuket Prison Commander Rapin Nichanon at the meeting at Mission Hills Resort in east Phuket.
Some of the present prison's initiatives, including a massage salon for the public, would be enhanced at the new facility, together with the sale of items made by prisoners as part of their rehabilitation.
''The old prison has no room for expansion so we are pleased that the concept of a new prison is being looked at more closely.'' said Khun Suchart. ''It will be Thailand's first international-standards prison.''
A maximum number of eight people will be in each cell. It was not made plain at the meeting whether prisoners on remand awaiting trial would be separated from those who have been convicted.
Commander Rapin said: ''We see this as an opportunity to end the antiquated system where prisoners must wear shackles to court and apply new technology.''
Samui, which already has some modern features, is to be looked at more closely for useful ideas.
Vice Governor Jamleran said: ''Moving the prison from central Phuket City is desirable because it's near a school and cannot expand.''
With the rapid expansion of Phuket and with more that 2000 prisoners already on Phuket, the only question could be whether a jail for 3000 takes account of the rapidly rising number of drug-related crimes.
Although the budget has yet to be agreed by Cabinet, the 108 rai for a new prison capable of holding 3000 inmates has been set aside at Bang Jo, in Phuket's east. The population at the present 115-year old Phuket Prison in central Phuket City has swollen to 2000.
Only a small number of prisoners are from countries outside Thailand and Burma but the new prison would ease concern, most recently expressed in the bid by Briton Lee Aldhouse to avoid extradition to Phuket to face a murder charge, that Thailand's prisons are substandard.
Local village chiefs, Vice Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada , Minister of Justice Pracha Promnork and the Director of the Department of Corrections, General Suchart Wong-Ananchari joined Phuket Prison Commander Rapin Nichanon at the meeting at Mission Hills Resort in east Phuket.
Some of the present prison's initiatives, including a massage salon for the public, would be enhanced at the new facility, together with the sale of items made by prisoners as part of their rehabilitation.
''The old prison has no room for expansion so we are pleased that the concept of a new prison is being looked at more closely.'' said Khun Suchart. ''It will be Thailand's first international-standards prison.''
A maximum number of eight people will be in each cell. It was not made plain at the meeting whether prisoners on remand awaiting trial would be separated from those who have been convicted.
Commander Rapin said: ''We see this as an opportunity to end the antiquated system where prisoners must wear shackles to court and apply new technology.''
Samui, which already has some modern features, is to be looked at more closely for useful ideas.
Vice Governor Jamleran said: ''Moving the prison from central Phuket City is desirable because it's near a school and cannot expand.''
With the rapid expansion of Phuket and with more that 2000 prisoners already on Phuket, the only question could be whether a jail for 3000 takes account of the rapidly rising number of drug-related crimes.
