But when Anne, 16, and Amy, 12, (not their real names) arrived at Changi Prison on Saturday afternoon, they were in for a surprise Father's Day treat.

Their father Ken, 42, and his team had clinched the top prize in the finals of the Yellow Ribbon Cooking Competition held on May 26. A total of 12 teams of inmates from different prison institutions took part.

As a reward, the two girls got to tuck into a three-course Western meal with their father, made by him according to his team's winning recipes.

As part of the Yellow Ribbon Project's Tribute of Love Father's Day Celebrations, all 11 other finalists, including four women, were also able to invite their families to celebrate Father's Day over lunch in prison.

The inmates had been preparing for the competition since April under the guidance of chefs from the Shatec Institutes.

Winners will get to undergo a 35-week culinary training course conducted by Shatec.

'We hope to let the inmates gain new skills to enhance their employability, which is a critical part of rehabilitation,' said Ms Karen Tan, vice-chairman of the cooking competition organising committee.

'With secured employment and support from their loved ones, the chances of ex-offenders reintegrating back into society are much higher.'

This was the second time that the cooking competition was held. The first was in 2007. That year's winners got to invite their families over for a meal for Mother's Day. Ms Tan said her group plans to make the competition an annual event.

Read the full story in tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Times.