Koh Tao murders: Police respond to their critics (updated)

06 ตุลาคม 2557

Thai police have responded to the questions about their respect for the rights of Myanmar migrant workers during their investigation into the the double murder of two British tourists. Latest: Police have now submitted their investigation report to the prosecutors.

Thai police have responded to the questions about their respect for the rights of Myanmar migrant workers during their investigation into the the double murder of two British tourists. Latest: Police have now submitted their investigation report to the prosecutors.

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Tuesday

Koh Tao murders: Police respond to their critics (updated)

During their investigation into the double murder of British tourists, police have questioned hundreds of Myanmar migrant workers on Koh Tao. THITI WANNAMONTHA

Noon update

Police on Tuesday submitted their investigation report on the murder of two British tourists on Koh Tao island, off Surat Thani province, on Sept 15 to prosecutors at the prosecution office of Samui district.

The 850-page investigation report recommends the indictment of two Myanmar nationals - Saw Rim and Win, both 21 - for premeditated murder, rape, theft and illegal entry into Thailand.

The report and related evidence were submitted to the prosecution office of Samui district by Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin, deputy commissioner of the Region 8 Provincial Police, the chief investigator of the case, and Pol Col Pornsak Nuannu, deputy commander of Surat Thani police.

David Miller, 24, was found dead alongside Hannah Witheridge, 23, on a Koh Tao beach on Sept 15.

Police fend off Koh Tao claims

Myanmar embassy seeks assurances

Post Reporters

Myanmar embassy officials say they are satisfied with explanations provided by Thai authorities over the arrest of their nationals for the double murder of two British tourists, Phangan police said Monday.

The officials had sought a meeting with police after comments in social media alleging the two Mynamar nationals were being set up as scapegoats. One other detained Myanmar national is being treated as a witness.

Pol Col Prachum Ruangthong, superintendent of Phangan police station and chief investigator in the case, said he met Myanmar labour attache Thein Naing and four human rights defenders at Samui's Bo Put police station Monday.

"We answered every question and clarified all points raised in social media. They were satisfied with our explanations," Pol Col Prachum said.

The Myanmar officials were told the investigation was above board, it was carried out in transparent manner, and no false evidence was presented, he said. The accused were never tortured into confessing, he added.

"It's impossible to create scapegoats in 2014, since it is easier for police to be grilled by the public," Pol Col Prachum said.

He said he would meet senior officers at the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok today to brief them on the investigation.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Jakthip Chaijinda said the inquiry was conducted with transparency and in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, human rights groups Monday offered to provide legal assistance to the Myanmar suspects.

Lawyers would be provided for the accused if they wanted them, Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, director of the Cross Cultural Foundation said.

Lawyers had asked to meet police investigators and the suspects, but permission had not yet been granted.

Preeda Thongchumnum, of the Human Rights and Development Foundation, said rights activists want to ensure legal protection for the suspects and want to be sure the investigation process followed the law.

She said the whole questioning process took less than 24 hours, adding the three migrant workers were arrested at night and two confessed the next day.

Human rights advocate Surapong Kongchantuk, also chairman of the Lawyers Council of Thailand's human rights subcommittee on ethnic minorities, said the council was investigating if the two suspects and the witness were afforded their rights.

He said he received a complaint from a local NGO on Sunday.

Meanwhile, police said the case will be forwarded to prosecutors Tuesday.

Monday's stories

Murder suspects Saw Rim, red-shirt left, and Win are taken to Koh Samui to await a court appearance later this week. SUPAPONG CHAOLAN

Evening update:

Thai police are starting to deal with the many suspicions people both here and abroad have raised about the their handling of the case.

A senior police official was just on Sorayuth Suthassanachinda's evening news show on Channel 3 and he explained exactly how they found David Miller's phone. He said they knew quickly that it was missing from his body from information gained from David's friends and relatives, but this was not made public. Later, after the two suspects were detained and they confessed to the crime, police asked about the phone. One of the suspects said he had left it with a friend and when the friend was questioned he led them to the phone. He had become suspicious of the origin of the phone and he threw it away behind his living quarters. Hannah'' phone, had earlier been returned to her relatives, the officer said.

A forensics expert was also on the show and he confirmed that the evidence they had was solid.

Myanmar suspect ‘took Miller’s phone’

POST REPORTERS

Police yesterday confirmed the mobile phone of Koh Tao murder victim, David Miller, had been retrieved from the accommodation of one of the two Myanmar suspects.

National police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang said suspect Saw Rim, 21, had intended to take the victim’s mobile phone for his own use, but he later found the device cannot be used in Thailand, so he smashed and discarded it in his living quarters.

Pol Col Prachum Ruangthong, superintendent of the Koh Phangan police station, said the device is a black iPhone 4, taken from the shorts pocket of Miller, 24, who was found dead on a Koh Tao beach alongside Hannah Witheridge, 23, on Sept 15.

The confirmation came as doubts spread on social media as to whether the phone was really taken from the suspects. Some pictures circulated online show a friend of Witheridge brought a mobile phone to Pol Col Prachum during the inquest.

Critics, especially those in the British press, have accused Thai authorities of bungling the probe by chasing the wrong leads. There have also been concerns the suspects are scapegoats, a claim Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha denied.

Saw Rim and Win, both 21, have been detained in Samui prison since Saturday. Both Myanmar workers were charged with premeditated murder, rape, theft and illegal entry into Thailand.

Police said the suspects earlier admitted they had raped and killed Witheridge after they watched her and Miller, who was also killed on Sept 15, hugging and kissing.

Acting Assistant National Police Chief Pol Lt Gen Panya Mamen said police have strong forensic proof to back their case against the suspects.

The two are the culprits, not scapegoats, he said, adding that evidence in the investigation documents is confidential and disclosing it could affect the probe.

Meanwhile, Pol Col Prachum said the Koh Tao police operation centre, which was earlier set up to unravel the murder case, has been moved to Bophut police station in Koh Samui.

Eight investigators are now finishing the probe document before sending it to prosecutors, he said.

Pol Col Prachum said police will not question the suspects any more as the interrogation is complete.

The DNA test results will be compiled in the probe document, which will be sought for the pair’s indictment, he added.

Meanwhile, tourism on Koh Tao showed signs of returning to normal as many foreign travellers have come back to the island.

Tourism operators there said tourist activity has apparently picked up since police succeeded in unraveling the murder case and apprehended the suspects.