Political activist Ekkachai Hongkangwan shared on his personal Facebook page about his life conditions while serving time in Bangkok's special prison during 2022 to 2023.
He mentioned that Chinese nationals involved in telecommunications fraud cases lived comfortably in prison, did not need to work, enjoyed special food, and even employed Thai prisoners to serve them.
Moreover, these Chinese prisoners' greatest fear was being extradited back to China for trial, as they could face the death penalty.
Ekkachai described, "During my time in Bangkok's special prison (2022 to 2023), I was detained in the same cell block as many Chinese prisoners involved in telecommunications fraud.
These Chinese prisoners were very united and influential within the prison, bribing large sums of money, thus their life in prison was very comfortable.
They did not need to labor, nor participate in flag-raising or other activities. In terms of meals, they could enjoy delicacies made from large chunks of frozen salmon, even smoke cigars worth 15,000 Thai Baht, and had their own sound systems to play Chinese music in the prison area.
They lived together in Room 11, had higher privacy, and even employed Thai prisoners to provide convenience and services for them.
When conflicts arose with Thai prisoners, they always had the upper hand. The Thai prisoners would be punished, such as being shackled, confined in a 30 square meter room with more than 30 people, crowded 24 hours a day. There were no fans in summer, and even no water available during the day.
However, their greatest fear was not the Thai prison, but being extradited back to China.
Some Chinese prisoners even celebrated being sentenced to 20 years in prison by Thai courts, because after serving a few years, they might be pardoned or have their sentences reduced, thus being released.
But if they were extradited back to China for trial, they could face the death penalty, or at best, life imprisonment."
