NARATHIWAT, Nov 10 — The Narathiwat Provincial Prison authorities have denied allegations that six Malaysian detainees were mistreated in the prison.
A Narathiwat Provincial Prison spokesman said the Malaysians are allowed to pray and are provided with halal meals prepared by a Muslim cook three times a day, similar to other Muslim inmates.
Female Muslim inmates are allowed to wear hijab and long-sleeved clothing.
“All inmates are given equal treatment, regardless of whether they are Thai or Malaysian. Rumours suggesting every detainee is treated harshly and cruelly are entirely inaccurate,” he told Bernama.
He said the six Malaysian detainees held in temporary detention cells are in good health and engaging in daily activities like other detainees.
“They are in temporary detention cells and separated by gender, as their cases are still under investigation,” he said.
He explained that detainees’ families are allowed to visit once a week, and applications can be made online.
“This prison has only been in operation for four years, unlike the older prison in downtown Narathiwat, and all facilities here are still in good condition.
“This prison only houses detainees for crimes such as drug offences, robbery, and causing injury, unlike Songkhla Prison, which holds detainees for more serious crimes like murder,” he added.
He said there are 30 Malaysians among the prison’s 2,879 detainees.
Recent media reports said six Malaysians, including a singer from Kelantan, aged between 25 and 35 had been detained at the prison while awaiting their prosecution date. They were arrested during a narcotics police raid at a hotel near Sungai Golok earlier this month for drug possession.
— Bernama
