SINGAPORE: On the day this individual was transferred from prison to a halfway house, Graceson Ang felt as if their heart was going to “jump out” of their chest.
He was going to meet up with his family in the flesh, without any glass barrier or just on a screen, initially in nearly four years.
“The most anxious part is waiting for my family to come, ” he or she told CNA producer Liu Ziqing upon May 25 right after arriving at The Assisting Hand, where he would spend nearly six months as part of a Singapore Prison Service community-based programme for inmates serving the tail-end of their sentences.
“I’m hoping that will my whole loved ones will come but through what I know, the eldest daughter has a school get away so I don’t know whether or not she can make it delete word. ”
The girl couldn’t, but Graceson’s wife and 2 younger children did. The children had been “really thrilled the whole day”, their wife told your pet.
Besides time with his family, Graceson, 37, also revelled in being able to reach out his hand to feel drops associated with rain, as well as the sun on his skin. These were things he failed to get to experience within prison.
But the extra freedom came with many rules to see.
For instance: He would not be able to carry on home leave during the first month in the halfway house. He’d have to undergo urine testing as well as lab tests to ensure he did not smoke or consume alcohol. Failing the particular smokerlyser or breathalyser test would mean not being able to go on home keep for four moments; testing positive for the third time would land him in prison.
He’d sleep in a 12-man room, with lamps off at 10. 30pm.