Two Tourists Brutally Murdered on Koh Tao, One Raped: Police Spark Thailand Manhunt

**Bower** · 21-10-2014, 07:26 PM

BBC now reporting the two Burmese lads have retracted their statements and deny any involvement in this crime.

**Sumocakewalk** · 21-10-2014, 07:59 PM

Bangkok Post
October 21, 2014
Writer: Online Reporters

British detectives arriving in Thailand next week to follow up on the Koh Tao murders case will be limited to observing Thai authorities, National Human Rights Commission chairwoman Amara Pongsapich Tuesday.

After meeting with British ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent, Mrs Amara said she stressed that the role of the Scotland Yard detectives arriving next week was only to observe the investigation by Thai police.

The meeting came after commission found that torture could have been used to force the two Myanmar suspects, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, to confess to murdering Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on the Surat Thani province island Sept 15.

Mrs Amara said the meeting did not go into details. The British ambassador was concerned about the case and welcomed the commission's decision to step into the case, she added.

The case in the hands of state prosecutors, but they are still waiting for more evidence from police before making the decision whether or not to indict the pair.

Thawatchai Siengjaew, chief of the Public Prosecution Office Region 8, did not reveal any details about what additional information investigators requested, only saying that all requests made by prosecutors have not been received by the office.

The Thai police investigation of the killings has been widely criticized and with many believing the real culprits remain at large.

British police to come next week on Koh Tao case | Bangkok Post: news

**Sumocakewalk** · 21-10-2014, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Sumocakewalk

After meeting with British ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent, Mrs Amara said she stressed that the role of the Scotland Yard detectives arriving next week was only to observe the three ring circus staged by Thai police.

fixed

(there are only clown acts in this circus)

**YOrlov** · 21-10-2014, 08:17 PM

Find more "more circumstantial evidence..." I hope that is a mistranslation.

State prosecutor orders police to question more before indicting the murder suspects in court - Thai PBS English News

The state prosecutor today ordered the police to look into several unclear issues related to the murder of two British tourists in Koh Tao island before the two murder suspects could be prosecuted in court.

Meanwhile the commissioner of the Royal Thai Police said the police are willing to allow British and Myanmar officials to observe the inquiry of the case by Thai police.
Pol Gen Somyos Phumphanmuang, the commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, assured that he was ready to allow British and Myanmar experts to observe in the probe of the murder in Koh Tao as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has pledged with the British Premier David Cameron during a recent meeting in Milan.

But he said that the observation would be within the framework of the Thai laws.
At the same time, the state prosecutor of the Eight Prosecution Region, Mr Thawatchai Siengjiew, disclosed that the working group of prosecutors have ordered the police to probe into more issues and to question more witnesses and find more circumstantial evidence before the state prosecutor could prosecute them in the court.
He said that case needed to have substantial evidence as it is closely watched by people around the world.

Human Rights Office officials said they received complaints that the two Myanmar suspects were beaten by the police during the interrogation.
They said from the interview with the suspects also confirmed they were beaten.
However a cross check of the suspects’ claim with Koh Pha-ngan police chief Pol Col Prachum Ruangthong showed there was no beating as claimed by the suspect. The officer confirmed no beating or torture.

**pseudolus** · 21-10-2014, 08:33 PM

However a cross check of the suspects’ claim with Koh Pha-ngan police chief Pol Col Prachum Ruangthong showed there was no beating as claimed by the suspect. The officer confirmed no beating or torture.

"heh Officer Somchai- two burmese boys says you beat them. You didn't do that did you?"

"Ummm no we did not. Thai police would not do that"

"That's what I thought. I will tell the world it did not happen"

Fucking jokers.

**YOrlov** · 21-10-2014, 08:44 PM

Koh Tao Murder Suspects Retract Confessions, Describe Torture

Koh Tao Murder Suspects Retract Confessions, Describe Torture
SURAT THANI — The two Burmese men accused of murdering a pair of British tourists in southern Thailand last month say they are innocent and were forced to confess under duress, their lawyer said today.

Rassada Manurassada, a human rights lawyer, visited the suspects in prison today to question them about their alleged role in the brutal murder of David Miller, 24, and rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the island of Koh Tao on 15 September.
According to Rassada, after five hours of questioning the two suspects said they were innocent.
"The suspects said they did not do the crime they were accused of," Rassada told Khaosod upon leaving the prison. "This is very important."

Thai police have insisted that the two suspects, named Win Saw Htun and Saw Lin, voluntarily confessed to killing the two tourists and raping Witheridge. They also say DNA traces found on Witheridge's body implicate the pair.

However, according to Rassada, the 21-year-old migrant workers only confessed because they were abused during the police interrogation, for which no lawyer was present.
"The suspects said they were beaten during the police interrogation. The interpreter kicked them in the chest," Rassada said, adding that the interpreter was of different ethnicity than the suspects and spoke a different dialect, leading to some confusion during the translation.
The "interpreter" initially used by police turned out to be a local food vendor of Rohingya descent, not a professional.

Apart from allegedly beating the two suspects, the interpreter also extorted money from Win, Rassada said.
"The interpreter told Win that his personal money could be confiscated, so he asked Win to give him the money - a total of 4,300 baht -and promised to send it to the suspect's parents in Myanmar," Rassada said. "We will investigate whether that money has really been transferred to Win's relatives."
The news comes a day after Thailand’s human rights commission vowed to launch an inquiry into mounting allegations that the suspects were tortured in police custody.

For weeks, international human rights groups have raised concerns about the treatment of the two migrant workers, who many suspect are scapegoats. Thai police have a long history of extracting confessions that are later recanted in court.

Doubts about Thailand’s handling of the case also recently prompted the United Kingdom to arrange for its own delegation of police to travel to Thailand and oversee the investigation.
[ er, not really...]
Following today’s revelations, the legal team representing the suspects will file a letter seeking fairness from the Office of Attorney-General, Rassada said.

He explained that the letter, signed by Win and Saw, raises three points with the public prosecutor: first, how the suspects were forced into making a false confession; second, the abuse they were subject to while in police custody; and third, doubts about the interpreter's ability to correctly translate during the police interrogation.

"If the justice system gives the suspects an opportunity to prove their innocence and present evidence about where they were and what they were doing at the time, the truth will be revealed," Rassada said.

The public prosecutor has yet to formally take up the case, citing an "incomplete" file sent by police, who have been under an immense amount of pressure to solve the murder case as swiftly as possible.

**Davis Knowlton** · 21-10-2014, 08:52 PM

Sorry, but I just fail to understand why many of you appear to believe that the presence of two British coppers, who don't know the countries or languages or cultures involved, is going to make a bit of difference in this abortion of a 'case'.

They will see what the Thai want them to see, Thai translators will ensure they hear only what the Thai want them to hear, then back to Bangkok, a night on the town with their Thai cop buddies, a bauble for the missus and off they go - job done.

**BaitongBoy** · 21-10-2014, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Lancelot

You forgot to tell Sumocackewalk to stop educating Thai experts such as your self

Well, you are deluded enough to think I'm an expert...Poor lad, you are...

**Kurgen** · 21-10-2014, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Sorry, but I just fail to understand why many of you appear to believe that the presence of two British coppers, who don't know the countries or languages or cultures involved, is going to make a bit of difference in this abortion of a 'case'.

They will see what the Thai want them to see, Thai translators will ensure they hear only what the Thai want them to hear, then back to Bangkok, a night on the town with their Thai cop buddies, a bauble for the missus and off they go - job done.

You're right DK, it will be a farce from start to finish.

Only an idiot would have faith in the so called Thai justice system, trust me as one who knows.

**snakeeyes** · 21-10-2014, 10:59 PM

Could it be the other side of this sad story ?

https://www.facebook.com/CSILA90210/...22722867805441

Maung Maung‎CSI LA
12 hrs ·

A massage from Koh Tao Burmese community

First of all, Thanks a million to CSI LA and fellow Thai friends for standing up for the Justice.

Some Burmese people in Koh Tao whispered that the murder was not happened on the beach, it was happened in the guest house where British couple were staying.

According to them, Nomsod and his fellow gangsters have harassed and molested the British girl in AC Bar and got fight with the girl, when the British girl has gone back to the guest house after fight, they followed and killed the boyfriend, raped the girl and killed her too. Altogether 5 people, Nomsod and 4 Thai Gangsters (one of them was rumored as a Thai policeman) who worked for his father were involved in the murder. After the murder, they carried the bodies to the beach which is 50 meters away from the guest house, staged as a couple were having sex on the beach and killed on the beach.

Two Burmese boys accused were also workers of one of Nomsod's father's businesses on the island, and they were playing a guitar on the beach when Nomsod and his gangsters carrying bodies, and Burmese workers were also asked to helped them carry the bodies too. Two Burmese have to do it because they scared of Nomsod and his gang and his father too. Which mean their DNA can be found on the bodies too. Which make them a perfect scapegoats.

The whole Koh Tao community knows about what really happened that night but everybody were scared of Nomsod's family and their gangsters and also the police thus nobody dare to speak out, Koh Tao Burmese were saying its not a secret that Nomsod family is making millions of bath for Thai police every month from many different illegal businesses on the island, and this case too, there was also a rumor that every Thai policeman involved in this case were already bribed handsomely by the Nomsod family.
The whole point of a message is to inform the Scotland Yard Police to focus on Nomsad and his thugs, AC Bar, Guest House, Sperm DNA inside the British Girl's womb and find a match. Not to trust on the 'murdered on the beach' fairy tale and tempered evidences and CCTVs on the whole island that are under the Nomsod's family influence.

**Troy** · 21-10-2014, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Sorry, but I just fail to understand why many of you appear to believe that the presence of two British coppers, who don't know the countries or languages or cultures involved, is going to make a bit of difference in this abortion of a 'case'.

I suspect that the bodies have revealed something that the Brits are keeping strictly to themselves at this moment in time.

**YOrlov** · 22-10-2014, 12:40 AM

^^ That reads like 3 rd hand rumour or plain ol' dis- information. Why would CSI LA 90210 even post it?

^ I am hoping there was still semen samples for the Norfolk Coroner's office to collect. If so.....

**snakeeyes** · 22-10-2014, 12:58 AM

^
Don't shoot the messenger ,

**textalk** · 22-10-2014, 07:02 AM

I hope the Brit's have an ACE in the hole which will possibly out wit the BIB and at least convince everyone else who done it.

At this point I don't understand how anyone could possibly believe those boys did it.

**Yasojack** · 22-10-2014, 09:27 AM

The Brits cops, possibly can't do anything though the Pressure they and other countries can put on Thailand is immense, there human rights records are Abysmal.

Prayuth has been doing a great job by himself by contradicting everything he has agreed to previously, New Pms need to make friends not enemies.

Koh tao is a showcase for the future of Thailand's integrity.

**r1 pet** · 22-10-2014, 09:38 AM

if the British plods do manage to get a result, we are all in for a kicking at the next checkpoint,

**pseudolus** · 22-10-2014, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by Yasojack

Koh tao is a showcase for the future of Thailand's integrity.

More like a showcase of Thailand historic and continued lack of integrity.

**ltnt** · 22-10-2014, 10:07 AM

More like gossipy old fools. Give it a rest. Its over. done, finished, ended, forget about it!

**Sumocakewalk** · 22-10-2014, 10:18 AM

Eleven Myanmar
October 21, 2014

Parents of two Myanmar migrant workers accused of killing two British nationals at Koh Tao will fly to Thailand today (October 22), said Kyaw Thaung, executive director of Myanmar nationals association, who came to pick up them.

They came to Yangon from Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State, on October 12 to go to Thailand and meet their sons.

"We are now at the [Thai] embassy as they informed yesterday that the visas are ready. We will leave for Thailand tomorrow with an 8-am flight," said Kyaw Thaung on October 21.

The families of Koh Tao suspects will be provided security by the embassy. The two suspects have been released on bail after a court hearing of 3 plaintiff witnesses on October 14.

The trial on the case will be brought to court on October 23, Kyaw Thaung said.

Koh Tao suspects' parents to go to Thailand - Eleven Myanmar | Eleven Myanmar

Suspects released on bail? Thought they were still in custody. Hope the part about the visas being ready for the parents is true.

**new2thai** · 22-10-2014, 10:47 AM

My wife just said that on channel 3 news earlier, 9-00 AM Thai Time, that the police had admitted they had the wrong suspects, and that they are now looking for different people.
As the news was only in Thai I have no idea what was said, but my wife insists what she heard is true.
I hope the next suspects are in fact the real ones, that in fact most people already believe to be the perpetrators.

**koman** · 22-10-2014, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by new2thai

the police had admitted they had the wrong suspects, and that they are now looking for different people.

If this turns out to be true, it will be interesting to hear them explain the "confessions".....

As far as I know Burmese waiters don't go around voluntarily confessing to murders they did not commit.....but we can be assured the BIB will have another really convincing story lined up.....like blaming it all on a misunderstanding caused by their low cost interpreter..

**Yasojack** · 22-10-2014, 11:14 AM

Possibly a matter of saving face, If true they must of had a lot of pressure put on the boys at the top.

Maybe George Sorros said he was going to do a run.

**cyrille** · 22-10-2014, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by koman

we can be assured the BIB will have another really convincing story lined up...

They don't have to think up stories.

The press all know what to ask and what not to ask.

The problems are that endemic.

Watch - they won't at any point get grilled about it at all.

You're picturing a scenario based on how things work elsewhere, not on how they work in Thailand.

**Yasojack** · 22-10-2014, 12:23 PM

you gotta laugh.

company has office in Thailand owned by Kreingkarn Kanjanapokin

The murder of two British backpackers in Koh Tao has no impact on decision making of European tourists as most of them still do not change their minds and will continue to visit Thailand.
Over 80 percent of them said they still like Thailand despite of the recent development, according to the New York-based consumer research firm Envirosell.

The US-based research firm conducted a survey of European tourists’ opinions about visits to Thailand, during October 13 and 16.

A total of 1,835 would-be visitors to Thailand were surveyed.

They are broken down to 618 British and the remaining 1,217 are from eight other countries in Europe.

More than half or 61 percent of the respondents said they would not reconsider their planned visits to Thailand whereas the remaining 39 percent indicated they might review their plan, depending on the developments of the murder case on Koh Tao.

Besides, 74 percent of the tourists did not doubt the investigation into the murders, while 26% cast doubts about the case because they had heard about lack of transparency in the investigation from the media.

However 85 percent of respondents said they still liked Thailand despite recent developments.

Asked what improvements they would like to see most, the respondents indicated they wanted to see improved tourist safety and more assistance centers for tourists, harsher penalties for exploiters of tourists, and better regulation of tours and taxis.

European tourists still like to visit Thailand despite of the British tourist murders in Koh Tao - Thai PBS English News

**septimus** · 22-10-2014, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Troy

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Sorry, but I just fail to understand why many of you appear to believe that the presence of two British coppers, who don't know the countries or languages or cultures involved, is going to make a bit of difference in this abortion of a 'case'.

I suspect that the bodies have revealed something that the Brits are keeping strictly to themselves at this moment in time.

I read yesterday that before a body can be repatriated, must be embalmed. Thsi is stated on British gov't web site. Also apparently no airline will carry corpse unless it has been embalmed.
sep

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