NARATHIWAT: Thirty Malaysians are currently imprisoned in Narathiwat, with the majority convicted for drug-related offences.
A prison spokesman confirmed that these Malaysians, mostly from Kelantan, were among 2,879 inmates at the facility, which is operating above its capacity of 2,400.
"As of yesterday, we have 2,879 prisoners, including 30 Malaysians. Besides drug offences, they have been sentenced for crimes such as robbery and causing harm to others," he said.
He also said that the prison was relocated four years ago to a larger facility about 3 kilometres from the old site in Narathiwat town.
The new prison can accommodate more inmates, but the current population exceeds its designed capacity.
"Currently, we have 2,879 prisoners, including 480 women," he added.
The spokesman clarified that the majority of those sent to Narathiwat prison were serving sentences for lesser crimes, with sentences typically under 30 years.
"Inmates convicted of more serious offences, such as murder, are transferred to higher-security prisons in Yala or Songkhla," he said.
On Monday, six Malaysians, including a popular modern dikir barat singer, were detained and currently on remand in Narathiwat prison.