LAND has been set aside for a new Phuket jail but there is no budget allocation so far, says the Commander of Phuket Prison, Rapin Nichanon.
He told Phuketwan that Phuket's jail, more than 100 years old, was over-crowded. Built to hold 800 inmates, the Phuket institution currently holds 1393 prisoners, including about 15 non-Burmese expats.
Commander Rapin said that 109 rai had been set aside in Bang Jo, Pa Klok, in Phuket's east, for the new jail. But funding was yet to be approved. About a billion baht would be required, Commander Rapin said.
''We cannot send any people to other jails because other jails are also overcrowded,'' Commander Rapin said.
Between 60 and 70 percent of the inmates are prisoners for drug offences or alleged drug offences, he said.
Phuket Prison holds those who are sentenced to terms up to 15 years. Those serving longer terms are sent to Bangkok prisons.
Phuket Taxi Driver Raped Me, Says Swedish TouristHe told Phuketwan that Phuket's jail, more than 100 years old, was over-crowded. Built to hold 800 inmates, the Phuket institution currently holds 1393 prisoners, including about 15 non-Burmese expats.
Commander Rapin said that 109 rai had been set aside in Bang Jo, Pa Klok, in Phuket's east, for the new jail. But funding was yet to be approved. About a billion baht would be required, Commander Rapin said.
''We cannot send any people to other jails because other jails are also overcrowded,'' Commander Rapin said.
Between 60 and 70 percent of the inmates are prisoners for drug offences or alleged drug offences, he said.
Phuket Prison holds those who are sentenced to terms up to 15 years. Those serving longer terms are sent to Bangkok prisons.
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I would have thought it would make more sense to build the Prison in Phang Na. This island doesn't need another prison. The building in Phuket needs to stop and Phang Na has more land, valued cheaper and 1 billion baht to build a prison is a bit of a joke in a 3rd world country. 25 Million Euro - is more than a luxury hotel.
Posted by Tbs on April 13, 2011 17:20
Editor Comment:
If they had more criminals in Phang Nga than Phuket, I guess that's where they'd build the prison.