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Chapter 5: Prison
A set of prison top & bottom, blanket, a pair of slippers, spoon, mug, face towel, small bar of soap, toothbrush & a small tub of toothpaste. That was all she got after she was body checked and all her personal belongings taken. On her top is R/14250, her new identity. She followed behind the line, until she was told to stop and enter this cell. In it there were 4 other inmates, and she entered along with 2 others.
"14250, what are you in for?" asked one of the inmates.
She couldn't gather much to utter a word. Another one came by and asked, "first time?"
She could only nod. She wondered what would happen the next few days, wondered how long she would be in this cell before the lawyer she was promised would come visit. She wondered if these other inmates can be trusted, if she should tell the truth or pretend I am fine. She was beyond broken. She lost the capacity to identify who she could trust and who she shouldn't.
She refused to tell them her real name, so she gave herself a pseudonym. She told them her name is Ann. They believed her, and they started introducing themselves. She had to blend in and spoke like them, in a language and persona they understood. Somehow she managed to bond with some on the act, they began to call each other by nicknames and grew concern on each other's outcomes. Soon she got visitations, one with the lawyer.
"Hi, Ifa. My name is Chew. I am your lawyer who will defend you. I was engaged by this man called Jacob. I was only briefly told of your case, but I know there might be more to it, please share all that you know, everything, and anything at all that might help me help you out of this."
Just what would she know? Where should she even begin? So many things were running in her mind.
"Hi. I don't know where to start. I think it is my husband? I only know it is because of drugs, but I honestly have no ideas what drugs, or how my urine was positive of it, I really really have no idea at all on this." she replied.
"Okay, do you know what are your charges? Do you want to know what drugs, and what are the possible sentence?"
"Yes please. Also if you have any info on my husband. Was he caught as well? What about him, what are his charges?"
And so Mr Chew went to list them all. She was shocked to hear all of her charges. If she was found guilty, she could potential remain behind bars for two to five years! He had been caught and being remanded as well, and for his charges, he could potentially be behind bars for the same amount of time. She went on to explain all that she knows, where he went the last she saw him, with whom, and possibilities of moments he could have spiked her.
"Okay, thank you for being honest. I will get down to find out more, and have a word with your lecturers and cohort mates, I will also find out as much as I can on your husband, any statements he had given and will visit you again. Do you have any messages you want me to pass on to your parents, family members or Jacob?"
"Just tell them I am okay here. And please, help me. I am innocent... I really don't know what he did or how or why I am even here..."
"Alright, I will see you again before your next hearing and if I don't I will see you in court and appeal for an adjournment and see you after that."
How, how can her husband do this to her? And why is Jacob so adamant on helping her? What would the outcome be? Will she get out of here? It is clearly a heavy case. Drug, in Singapore? Doomed. Her future would be doomed, won't it?
//--- Please leave a comment if you want to read the next chapter. :)
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