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The entrance to the Special Bangkok Metropolitan Prison which is commonly known as Maha Chai Prison. This was built by King Rama V in 1889 after a visit to a prison in Singapore. By Thai standards, it was regarded as the first modern prison. By 1990, the prison was not only old but also overcrowded. The prisoners were moved mainly to Lad Yao Prison. Then Maha Chai Prison was knocked down to make way for a public park.
Today, the only evidence of the former prison is the wall along the east side, the main gate, cell block 9 and three of the administration buildings (see below). The small door in the above picture was used to take dead bodies out of the prison.
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