A group of 100 inmates were transferred from Kandal provincial prison to Trapeang Phlong prison in Tbong Khmum province to receive vocational training through a rehabilitation programme after they have served their sentences.
Kandal provincial prison director Chat Sineang told The Post that the transfer of all 100 inmates, most of them male and convicted of theft with aggravating circumstances and drug use related offences, took place on February 20.
During the transfer process, security was provided by the Kandal provincial police and prison guards from the Ministry of Interior’s General Department of Prisons.
Sineang said: “Because our prison is small and overcrowded and lacks rehabilitation training programmes, we need to transfer some inmates to partner prisons so that they have access to training opportunities in various skills after serving their sentences”.
According to Sineang, Kandal provincial prison currently has more than 700 inmates, around 100 of whom are women. The prison covers an area of a little more than one hectare, which is too small to expand the facilities to accommodate a rehabilitation programme for inmates.
This is not the first time that inmates were transferred from there to Trapeang Phlong prison.
On February 8, a total of 100 inmates were transferred from Kandal provincial prison to the Cardamom Mountains Correctional Centre, or M4 prison, in Pursat province, which is modelled after the Siem Reap provincial prison that is widely considered to have the best vocational rehabilitation programme.
Tbong Khmum provincial prison director Phin Yan told The Post that currently the inmates are being held in the prison but they are being prepared for various training programmes based on their personal decisions.
Interior ministry’s General Department of Prisons spokesman Nuth Savana told The Post on February 21 that Trapeang Phlong prison has a rehabilitation programme for inmates convicted of lesser crimes.
“Our prison has many rehabilitation training programmes including growing vegetables and raising animals, furniture-making and welding for inmates convicted of misdemeanours.
“We need a strategic plan to establish these programmes in all prisons, depending on the size of the facility,” he said.
