Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

Post by Nereus »

'Murder Island' combed for German cult leader

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... ult-leader

The police are looking for a self-proclaimed guru as they search for possible leads to resolve the question of whether Elise Dallemange, a 30-year-old Belgian tourist, took her own life or was murdered. She was found dead on April 27.

Maj Gen Chalit Thinthanee said the tourist and immigration police are trying to locate Raaman Andreas, leader of the Sathya Sai Baba cult on neighbouring Koh Phangan. Police said they suspect Dallemange was a member of the Indian sect.

Maj Gen Chalit said the Belgian woman is believed to have met the German leader of the sect several times. "If we can find Mr Raaman we should be able to ascertain the k̶i̶l̶l̶e̶r̶ cause of death," he said.

Koh Tao police initially ruled it a suicide but were ordered to reopen the case last week after it spread on social media and was picked up by the Samui Times, an online newspaper, and later shared by the CSI LA Facebook account.

Michele van Egten, the deceased's mother, told local media that her daughter had spent time in Koh Phangan, where she lived at a yoga and tantra retreat on the island made famous by its full-moon parties.

The police yesterday inspected a bungalow rented by Dallemange on Mae Haad and found she had refused to give her passport number to staff when she checked in at around 3pm on April 19.

The record also showed she was reluctant to use her real name when she signed in. She initially used her own surname but subsequently crossed it out and wrote "Depis" instead.

At around 7pm a fire was reported in her bungalow. The blaze reached some other rooms nearby. Afterwards, Dallemange disappeared.

According to Maj Gen Chalit, the police are also focusing on what happened to her luggage as they investigate the cause of her death.
Her mother told the local press that before Dallemange disappeared, she booked a ferry to Chumphon harbour en route to Bangkok.

It was scheduled to depart from Koh Phangan and pass via Koh Tao. Dallemange never arrived in Chumphon but her luggage did.

The Belgian was initially thought to have hung herself as she was found dead on a rock in the jungle above Tanote Bay, her body partially eaten by lizards. But her mother disputed this ruling.

Dallemange is the seventh tourist found dead on Koh Tao since 2014.
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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Wow! From written off as suicide to seeking an Indian German that is head of some hippy-weirdo island cult.

Blimey, quite a turnaround in the case. :roll:

Edit - Whatever next? This guy gets arrested on a mountain with his naked acolytes maybe.
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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Suicide could be absolutely correct. The real underlying problem is the distrust by what is probably 90% of foreigners following what happens in this country, and perhaps 50% of Thais themselves. There's simply little confidence in the MIB ability to handle much of anything more complicated than a drug bust. They've brought it upon themselves through decades of incompetence and corruption. It's going to take decades to correct public perception. I feel badly for the good policemen and for any righteous youngsters coming out of the police academy wanting to be a good cop and help the country. I would imagine after a few years the good ones feel beaten down and perhaps resign, and the bad ones join the dark side. :( Pete
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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Well, yes prcscct, you could well be right and that that she was borderline mental stable et al. Thing is, as you said, everyone has such a reinforced negative opinion of the police here and their competence (or really the lack thereof) that most assume something cynical...like me with my above posts and you are right it will take years to correct (even if they want to do it). Will be interesting to see how this one finally pans-out.

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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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It looks like it's over, or just about over.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crime/1 ... de-finding
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

Post by hhfarang »

There are still some unexplained parts to this case. Why was she travelling with an assumed identity? Was the fire at her bungalow connected with her death? How did her bags get on the ferry to Chumpon? ... etc.

I guess we'll never know the answers to any of those questions. A strange case with lots of side issues. Reminds me of the BBC series "Missing" that has plot twists and surprises all along the way. We need that French inspector to investigate Koa Tao. He never gave up even when dying of a brain tumor.
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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Only in Thailand ...

SAMUI TIMES FACES LIBEL CHARGE FOR LABELING KOH TAO ‘DEATH ISLAND’
Surat Thani governor told reporters Monday he intended to sue an English-language news website for nicknaming Koh Tao “Death Island.”

Uaychai Innak said such labeling by Samui Times “distorted” the situation there and damaged the island’s reputation as a tourist destination. A string of foreigners’ death has made the island infamous in recent years – most recently that of a Belgian tourist, ruled by police as suicide.

“False accusations and distorted news coverage has caused a negative image to the tourism sector in the province,” Uaychai was quoted as saying by Matichon. “As the provincial governor, I represent someone directly damaged by this.”

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crim ... th-island/
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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They are only using the name that the international media have used. But TIT!
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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buksida wrote: Tue Jul 04, 2017 2:05 pm Only in Thailand ...

SAMUI TIMES FACES LIBEL CHARGE FOR LABELING KOH TAO ‘DEATH ISLAND’
Surat Thani governor told reporters Monday he intended to sue an English-language news website for nicknaming Koh Tao “Death Island.”

Uaychai Innak said such labeling by Samui Times “distorted” the situation there and damaged the island’s reputation as a tourist destination. A string of foreigners’ death has made the island infamous in recent years – most recently that of a Belgian tourist, ruled by police as suicide.

“False accusations and distorted news coverage has caused a negative image to the tourism sector in the province,” Uaychai was quoted as saying by Matichon. “As the provincial governor, I represent someone directly damaged by this.”

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crim ... th-island/
:lach: Getting sued for telling the truth. Only in Thailand! Thai culture is extremely messed up! Sad.
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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I think a more descriptive title would be better--perhaps--Unexplained Violent Death Island.
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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Thailand needs to start moving away from tourism, the Tourism Industry in Thailand just attracts too many crooks, scammers, scumbags and undesirables both foreign and domestic.
And Thailand needs to stop constantly lying to themselves and get to work fixing the real problems and issues that exist here in this country.
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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Thats what we farang think it NEEDS, but then who cares what we think.
The whole concept of identifying the source of a problem, considering the choices to solve the problem, choosing one and acting on it with determination. Those are the elements of problem-solving. Which one is missing?? ALL of them.
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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oakdale160 wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2017 10:45 am Thats what we farang think it NEEDS, but then who cares what we think.
The whole concept of identifying the source of a problem, considering the choices to solve the problem, choosing one and acting on it with determination. Those are the elements of problem-solving. Which one is missing?? ALL of them.
:agree:
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Re: Koh Tao police to reopen death case of Belgian tourist

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Name Taken wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2017 10:32 am Thailand needs to start moving away from tourism, the Tourism Industry in Thailand just attracts too many crooks, scammers, scumbags and undesirables both foreign and domestic.
And Thailand needs to stop constantly lying to themselves and get to work fixing the real problems and issues that exist here in this country.
Think you'll find the majority of crooks , scammers, scumbags and undesirables are those that have moved to Thailand to live, as opposed to tourists. :|
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