Release 5 September 2005
Earlier this week, Foreign Prisoner Support Services received a letter from 'Rork' a foreigner working in Singapore, alerting us to the recent arrest of his good friend, Miss Wandee Muangngam, a Thai National now serving an eight month sentence in Singapore's Changi Women's Prison.
Wandee's story is an all too familiar one that many young Thai women fall victim too. Wandee arrived in Singapore as a sex worker which in Thailand, is a common occupation for young women in the poorest economic situation. Being the eldest in her family, Wandee was simply trying the only way she knew how, to earn enough money to feed herself and save some money for her son, parents, and siblings.
Wandee was charged in September 2005 with corruption under Singapore's law for bribing an Immigration officer. During a return trip to Singapore, at the Immigration counter at the airport, Wandee was told that she would not be allowed entry into Singapore if she didn't provide her mobile phone number to the Immigration officer. Henceforth, that same Officer allowed her entry and later contacted her saying that he could guarantee entry visas for her friends for a fee. Wandee was reluctant but feared the repercussions if she didn't cooperate with the Immigration officer . From then onwards, Wandee found herself in a spiral of corruption activities involving the said Immigration officer.
A close friend of Wandee's told Foreign Prisoner Support Service that he thought Wandee was one of the nicest people he had ever known.
'She is a little gullible, but it is a shame that such a beautiful individual has to find herself in such a situation.' said Rork. [Real name withheld to protect source]
Rork learned of Wandee's incarceration late last week through Wandee's brother in Thailand and has been trying to assist her through the Thai Consulate in Singapore. Rork told Foreign Prisoner Support Service that he was concerned that Wandee might not be able to represent herself well in court.
'As mentioned, her mitigating factors cannot be ignored. But if the courts do not know of it, then how are they to account for it?' said Rork.
'It may all be too late to help her in terms of the incarceration but I am hopeful that the Foreign Prisoner Support Services may be able to assist Wandee to ensure that her stay in the prison is just and humane' Rork said.
Write to Wandee:
If anyone would like to write to Wandee please do so via this address. Please ensure your letters are respectful to authorities and to Wandee herself. This is a young woman who has suffered enough and needs people to understand that her lifestyle was never by choice. She was a victim of poverty and circumstance.
Miss Wandee Muangngam Prisoner Number #R7837-2005 Changi Women's Prison 10 Tanah Merah Besar Road Singapore (498834) Visit Officer Tel: 65469-895 / 65469-433 Records & Reception Office Tel: 65469-427
Consular Contact:
Khun Sukporn (Officer-in-Charge) Extension 814
SINGAPORE Royal Thai Embassy 370 Orchard Rd., Singapore 0923 Tel: (65) 62354175, 67372158, 67373372 Fax: (65) 67320778 6737-2644
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