Escape

I just finished reading Escape by David McMillan. This is the story of the only westerner to ever escape from Bangkok's famous Klong Prem prison. Klong Prem is also affectionately known as the Bangkok Hilton.


I enjoyed the book, although it certainly did not make me want to enjoy the "hospitality" the Thai prison system. The book is as much about the Thai legal and prison system (from the author's view) as it is about the actual escape. A few things I found interesting. I haven't independently researched them, and the author is certainly not sympathetic to his captors. Still, there is a definite ring of truth in some of them.

- Like in the rest of Thai society, money can buy favors and status in prison here. In fact, without money, a prisoner will not receive enough food to live on.

-The trial judges are not portrayed as impartial advocates. In fact, they fill in the gaps in the prosecutor's case and actively discourage the defense from putting on more than a cursory defense.

- Defense attorneys usually just try to put on as quick a case as possible, often failing to call witnesses who travelled from other parts of the world to testify.

- One Pakistani was convicted of crimes that occurred before he had entered Thailand. The judge's response to his witnesses that showed that his entry permit was not forged was that he probably had another passport under which he travelled.

- Escape is considered an affront to the face of the guards, and they react extremely violently to any escape attempt, including killing or maiming the prisoners attempting to escape. In fact, the other prisoners fear the wrath of the guards in the area of escape that they will actually shout out for guards if they see another prisoner attempt to escape.

- Sentences for drug offenses are extremely harsh. It seems as if a lot of people received fifty years or the death penalty.

- Defendants are not encouraged to exercise their right to prove their innocence. They are rewarded by pleading guilty by a reduction of their sentence by half.

- Often after 4 years in prison here, Americans are able to apply to be transferred to the U.S. The transfer process usually involves a review of their sentence to make it more in line with the punishments in the U.S. for the same crime. Transferees are often therefore released when they get home.

- It is Thailand that we are talking about, so being well connected and having money are very important. It seems like you need to exercise it prior to trial or on appeal. The author made it sound like with all the eyes on a trial, its harder to grease the wheels in your favor. You might prevent ever being charged if you are well placed and financed, and if convicted, favors may be more easily plied in shadowy halls of the courts of appeals.