He may have been just smarting off about being in Africa, but you never know.
It is a good plan for a private cell, fresh beding and an individually served meal. I expect this will become standard across th country very quickly
You have a point there. Inmates/incarcerated folks are experts at creating reasons for a break from the same old surroundings. I think if most people knew of the volume of nonsense litigation filed by prisoners (usually alleging civil rights violations by prison guards) they would be shocked. The frivolous suits are filed merely for the day in court, at which the suit is typically dismissed. But, depending on where the prison facility and the court are located, it involves a nice ride in the country and a break from the same old same old. This guy might have been looking to spend time in a hospital for a change of pace, or for an opportunity to escape.