Visiting the 'Bangkok Hilton'

**hillbilly** · 21-09-2010, 11:01 AM

In Thailand's Bangkwang Prison - known by its expat inmates as the 'Bangkok Hilton' - a group of British prisoners are strugging to keep up hope.

Gail (in red) with other expat prison volunteers in Thailand

Thailand's Bangkwang Prison is known to expat prisoners as the Bangkok Hilton although this reveals more about the British sense of humour than it does about the jail where men serving sentences north of 25 years are detained. Thais, perhaps more realistically, refer to it as the Big Tiger, because they say it eats men alive.

Gale Bailey, originally from Leicester, has been visiting expat prisoners there ever since August 2005, voluntarily making the 90 minute trip from the comfortable apartment she shares with her husband in Bangkok to the infamous prison on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, where the cell lights never dim and the noise never ceases.

There are approximately 120 UK prisoners currently serving time in Thai prisons, the nine held at Bangkwang on drug-related charges considered the most serious offenders. Despite being virulently anti-drugs, Gale and a handful of expat volunteers visit them all at least once a week.

"Being so anti-drugs, it is strange that I visit so regularly and I can't really explain it. I don't condone their actions but at the end of the day they are human beings and I do not sit there in judgement. I am a mother and if it was my son it would break my heart but I would support him. Some of these chaps haven't seen their mothers since being sentenced and in two cases that means seven and eleven years. I can write emails to their parents and act as a go-between," she says.
One of the nine is Michael Connell, a former supermarket worker from Manchester who was caught trying to smuggle 3,400 ecstasy pills through Bangkok airport at the age of 19 and sentenced to 30 years. He has been in Bangkwang for the last seven years, and has been visited by Gale ever since she retired from an office job with her husband's international engineering company in Bangkok.

At the prison Gale and Michael speak via telephones, separated by glass, a metre gap and two sets of bars. They discuss pretty much anything, including Michael's job in the prison hospital's pharmacy and his progress in his Thai language classes. No physical contact is allowed, although gifts can be left.

"I might take up some nice oranges or apples. It's little things like that that make all the difference when you are in a place like that. The most important thing is that you eat well and keep clean in order to stay healthy.

"When I first started visiting Michael he was monosyllabic but now he has really come out of his shell. I was there for an hour and a half last week. I said to him 'Michael, you haven't done bad, you've really matured in the last few years.'
"With Michael, because he is still young, he prefers it if I don't talk to him about going out at night and having a few drinks because it reminds him of what he is missing out on. The older guys in their 40s don't mind because I am older and it makes them think that when they finally get out they won't be past it."

In concrete cells which hold up to 20 prisoners, space is limited and often prisoners have to sleep sitting up. During the summer months the heat is oppressive, during the rainy season the prison sewers regularly flood. One's quality of life on the inside is dependent on cash gifts from the outside - from food to bed sheets, everything has its price.

While Gale considers the British Embassy's treatment of the expat prisoners "brilliant", what with its delivery of monthly care packages of vitamins and food, she does consider the British government's prison transfer agreement somewhat harsh in comparison to other countries.

**More here...***
Visiting the 'Bangkok Hilton' - Telegraph

**Bangyai** · 21-09-2010, 11:46 AM

About 25 years ago I once applied for a position at the British Embassy as liason officer to British prisoners in Thai jails. At that time, in the whole of Thailand there were just 6 British prisoners. 1 in Surat Thani and the rest in Bangkok.

If the percentage of criminals in any group of people were a constant ( which it probably isn't ) the figure of 120 British prisoners would suggest a 20 fold increase in the number of visitors from the U.K.

Walking along Soi Bua Khao , you could be forgiven for thinking this rough estimate was below the actual reality.

**kingwilly** · 21-09-2010, 12:36 PM

She's a saint, I thought about doing it a few times, but just couldn't. good on her.

**bobo746** · 21-09-2010, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by hillbilly

was caught trying to smuggle 3,400 ecstasy pills through Bangkok airport

are these people retarded ?

**dirtydog** · 21-09-2010, 01:43 PM

hmmm, drug smuggler gets a job in the prison pharmacy, suppose he is the most qualified for the job

**patsycat** · 21-09-2010, 01:53 PM

And he is now working in the prison's pharmacy?

**patsycat** · 21-09-2010, 01:55 PM

Ooops, got there before me DD!!

**Ubermensch** · 21-09-2010, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by bobo746

are these people retarded?

This one is - learning difficulties & all that.

While he was being collared with a bunch of near-worthless pills the real package was being cheerily waved through customs.

Doesn't make him innocent, granted, but you've got to feel sorry for him.

**Travelmate** · 21-09-2010, 02:13 PM

Much been written about Bang Kwang prison. Have the conditions improved? Or is it the same as ever?

**patsycat** · 21-09-2010, 02:23 PM

I don't think i would take time out of my two week beach holiday to visit the Bangkok Hilton. But I am sure the inmates who are visited by folks like this nice lady really look forward to it.

There was someone on one of the forums who was collecting books to take there. Is that still going on?

**Airportwo** · 21-09-2010, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Sir Wilson

She's a saint, I thought about doing it a few times, but just couldn't. good on her.

Agreed, I have had thoughts - that's as far as it got!

**Stinky** · 21-09-2010, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Ubermensch

Originally Posted by bobo746

are these people retarded?

This one is - learning difficulties & all that.

While he was being collared with a bunch of near-worthless pills the real package was being cheerily waved through customs.

Doesn't make him innocent, granted, but you've got to feel sorry for him.

No big mafia drug conspirasy going on with this one, just a dopey little Mank trying to pay for his good times in Thailand importing and selling drugs to idiots.

**SiLeakHunt** · 21-09-2010, 03:20 PM

I've been quite a few times, met Mike Connell briefly and got on well with a bloke called Tony Flanagan, I met Gail as well briefly, nice lady trying to help a few lost souls good on her !

FarangRed · 21-09-2010, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Sdigit

Originally Posted by Ubermensch

Originally Posted by bobo746

are these people retarded?

This one is - learning difficulties & all that.

While he was being collared with a bunch of near-worthless pills the real package was being cheerily waved through customs.

Doesn't make him innocent, granted, but you've got to feel sorry for him.

No big mafia drug conspirasy going on with this one, just a dopey little Mank trying to pay for his good times in Thailand importing and selling drugs to idiots.

I think he pleaded guilty and got 90 years poor bastard, he was from Bury not Manchester

FarangRed · 21-09-2010, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by patsycat

And he is now working in the prison's pharmacy?

At least he knows what an E looks like

**Stinky** · 21-09-2010, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by FarangRed

Originally Posted by Sdigit

Originally Posted by Ubermensch

Originally Posted by bobo746

are these people retarded?

This one is - learning difficulties & all that.

While he was being collared with a bunch of near-worthless pills the real package was being cheerily waved through customs.

Doesn't make him innocent, granted, but you've got to feel sorry for him.

No big mafia drug conspirasy going on with this one, just a dopey little Mank trying to pay for his good times in Thailand importing and selling drugs to idiots.

I think he pleaded guilty and got 90 years poor bastard, he was from Bury not Manchester

Is he the same guy shown in Big trouble in Thailand? I thought he was a mank, sounded like it to me. Either way it doesn't matter where he's from, I've little sympathy for drug dealers, they're about as much use to society as cockroach juice is in a deli counter.

**ribblerat** · 21-09-2010, 04:46 PM

Is he the same guy shown in Big trouble in Thailand? I thought he was a mank, sounded like it to me. Either way it doesn't matter where he's from, I've little sympathy for drug dealers, they're about as much use to society as cockroach juice is in a deli counter.
Agreed 100 %

**terry57** · 21-09-2010, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by ribblerat

I've little sympathy for drug dealers,

I tend to feel the same but there's something about a 19 year old dude on his first ever trip to Thailand that ends up with life in prison here.

I do feel a tad sorry for him as he really was just a dumb little fok who got set up so some other evil bastard could get away with there crime.

Hope they get him out before he dies in that shit hole as I'm sure he wont do that sort of shite again.

Lesson well learned I say.

**Davis Knowlton** · 21-09-2010, 05:16 PM

I tend to agree with Terry. I also have no sympathy for drug smugglers, dealers, or users. That said, your whole life in a Thai hellhole prison because you are a fuckwit kid is harsh. They never get the players, just the played. I'm glad to know there are folks like this retired lady around who give of their time - I'm sure it is just about the only bright light in these convicts' pathetic lives. I wouldn't do it, but it's nice somebody does.

**Stinky** · 21-09-2010, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

I tend to agree with Terry. I also have no sympathy for drug smugglers, dealers, or users. That said, your whole life in a Thai hellhole prison because you are a fuckwit kid is harsh. They never get the players, just the played. I'm glad to know there are folks like this retired lady around who give of their time - I'm sure it is just about the only bright light in these convicts' pathetic lives. I wouldn't do it, but it's nice somebody does.

His sentence was reduced to 30 years Davis, he'll be out in another ten if he's a good boy.

**harrybarracuda** · 21-09-2010, 06:16 PM

While Gale considers the British Embassy's treatment of the expat prisoners "brilliant", what with its delivery of monthly care packages of vitamins and food, she does consider the British government's prison transfer agreement somewhat harsh in comparison to other countries.

Er - what's that then? After a third of your sentence you're allowed to go back home and finish your Thai sentence in the UK so your family can visit you?

Some of them don't even deserve that.

At least when Sandra Gregory was up for it, they stuck her in Durham High Sec. so she didn't get a frigging holiday.

IF YOU CAN'T DO THE TIME, DON'T DO THE CRIME!

If you want sympathy, you'll find it between shit and syphilis in the dictionary.

I did read about one drug dealer who found it ironic that he'd never touched hard drugs himself, but after a year in there he was a heroin addict. Justice I call it.

FarangRed · 21-09-2010, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by ribblerat

I've little sympathy for drug dealers,

I tend to feel the same but there's something about a 19 year old dude on his first ever trip to Thailand that ends up with life in prison here.

I do feel a tad sorry for him as he really was just a dumb little fok who got set up so some other evil bastard could get away with there crime.

Hope they get him out before he dies in that shit hole as I'm sure he wont do that sort of shite again.

Lesson well learned I say.

Hey don't feel to sorry for him, it wasn't his first trip to Thailand see the video on youtube, he done the same thing many times

FarangRed · 21-09-2010, 08:04 PM

CRIME: Michael had just landed in the Bangkok airport where Thai customs officials were waiting for him.

They knew his name, the flight he was on, what he was carrying and what he was wearing. Obviously, they had been tipped off within Thailand. The only people that knew what Michael was wearing were the passengers of that same flight.

The only people that knew what he was carrying were the drug dealers that forced Michael to take 3,400 ecstasy tablets into Bangkok to repay the debts he had racked up.

Somewhere between Pattaya and Bangkok, someone made a phone call and informed on Michael. That same someone walked through Thai customs as Michael was being arrested.

That same someone carried a suitcase full of drugs and was never apprehended. SENTENCE: Michael was sentenced by the Thai Court on 23rd March 2004 to 99 Years.

His Defence lawyer Prutti Kuranon said Michael Alan Connell had escaped a death sentence by agreeing to enter the plea ‘guilty’.

FarangRed · 21-09-2010, 08:08 PM

CRIME: Michael had just landed in the Bangkok airport where Thai customs officials were waiting for him.

They knew his name, the flight he was on, what he was carrying and what he was wearing. Obviously, they had been tipped off within Thailand. The only people that knew what Michael was wearing were the passengers of that same flight.

The only people that knew what he was carrying were the drug dealers that forced Michael to take 3,400 ecstasy tablets into Bangkok to repay the debts he had racked up.

Somewhere between Pattaya and Bangkok, someone made a phone call and informed on Michael. That same someone walked through Thai customs as Michael was being arrested.

That same someone carried a suitcase full of drugs and was never apprehended. SENTENCE: Michael was sentenced by the Thai Court on 23rd March 2004 to 99 Years.

His Defence lawyer Prutti Kuranon said Michael Alan Connell had escaped a death sentence by agreeing to enter the plea ‘guilty’.

FarangRed · 21-09-2010, 08:10 PM

sorry guys I dont know what happened there delete one

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