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Built in 1936 by the British administration of the Straits Settlements, the Changi Prison, Singapore housed 3000 civilians detained by the Japanese forces during the fall of Singapore in the Second World War. The prison was built with a capacity to house 600 prisoners. The Japanese used Selarang Barracks near the Changi Prison in Singapore as a prisoner of war camp. There were about 5000 prisoners of the Allied Force, mainly British and Australian soldiers. During the Japanese occupation of Singapore almost 850 POWs died in the Changi Prison. In 1944, the Allied POWs built a chapel in the prison. Stanley Warren, a British bombardier painted 5 beautiful murals in the chapel of scenes depicting the life of Christ. The 5 scenes were The Nativity, Saint Luke in Prison, The Last Supper, The Crucifixion and the Ascension. The prison was demolished in the year 2000 and the prisoners were relocated to another site close by. The new prison that was built has the gates of the old prison, which were restored by the Preservation of Monuments Board, Singapore Prison Service and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The new Changi Prison, Singapore now houses criminal offenders of the country especially those serving long terms. It is also a detention site for those with death penalty. Enjoy a memorable visit to the historically well-known Changi Prison, Singapore.
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