Whilst I can understand the reputation of the Thai police giving rise to skepticism, it does look as though the perpetrators left enough evidence lying around to prove their guilt if they were caught.
Provided the prosecution is not wholly reliant on confessions and is backed by properly conducted DNA analysis, I'll be content that the bastards who did this have been justly convicted..
Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly...
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
And there lies the problem.backed by properly conducted DNA analysis
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
Another snippet of opinion I read in The Nation
Koh Tao's other little secret: police extortion
The Nation October 5, 2014 1:00 am
Crackdown follows news that migrant workers without proper papers pay police Bt500 a month to work on the island
The brutal murder of two Britons on Koh Tao has shed light on a number of things that Thai authorities hate to discuss.
At the top, it revealed the attitude of the country's prime minister towards sex crime when he suggested that the rape and murder may have stemmed from how one of the victims was dressed. He later apologised for it and added that he was misunderstood.
Nationally, needless to say, the double murder has dented the country's image as a tourist paradise.
At the local level, police came under intense scrutiny for their sluggish handling of the investigation. Never mind that anger was building up because of the manner they were doing things in the days after the gruesome murders.
The fact that they were chasing the wrong lead did not help, not to mention the absence of prompt and immediate reaction, such as locking down this small island immediately after the killing.
Observers who understand the do's and don'ts at crime scenes have noted the authorities' unwillingness to prevent outsiders from trampling over physical evidence.
Such tardiness reflects the snail's pace of Thailand's bureaucracy and the country's law enforcement is not much different in this respect. Obviously, as this case has shown, sound judgement and leadership is lacking, not to mention common sense.
But this is just one of many cases. If law enforcers can blunder so much in spite of being under an intense spotlight, think of the other rape and murder cases they handle that don't get the national and international attention that this tragic case got.
According to latest reports, two migrant workers from Myanmar have admitted to the murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller.
As expected, they were presented to the public at a news conference. Damage control, perhaps. But this doesn't absolve the authorities of their lack of professionalism.
Beside the poor handling of the case, one spotlight that the police did not want revealed was the nature of the ties between them and migrant workers.
Yes, you guess it correctly - extortion.
According to our findings, out of the 5,000 migrant workers on Koh Tao, about 2,000 work illegally without proper permits. To get around that each 'illegal' has to pay police Bt500 a month. And if they want to use a motorcycle, that's another Bt500 a month to get around the driver's licence issue.
According to the local district chief, there are 3,300 migrant workers, mostly from Myanmar, registered to work on the island. By regulation, they have to pay Bt1,305 each year so they are entitled to the social security scheme.
As expected, the government went into damage-control mode and began to register all migrant workers in Surat Thani province, where Koh Tao is situated.
Whether these developments are enough to restore confidence among foreign visitors, no one could say. After all, no one in their right mind believes that the authorities don't know about this extortion and other irregularities. It's really sad that they have to wait for the gruesome murder of two British nationals to do something about it.
If Thai authorities really want to demonstrate that they are committed to public safety, they shouldn't have to wait until a public spotlight to force them to do so. Because if they crackdown on these irregularities, their action will speak for itself.
Koh Tao's other little secret: police extortion
The Nation October 5, 2014 1:00 am
Crackdown follows news that migrant workers without proper papers pay police Bt500 a month to work on the island
The brutal murder of two Britons on Koh Tao has shed light on a number of things that Thai authorities hate to discuss.
At the top, it revealed the attitude of the country's prime minister towards sex crime when he suggested that the rape and murder may have stemmed from how one of the victims was dressed. He later apologised for it and added that he was misunderstood.
Nationally, needless to say, the double murder has dented the country's image as a tourist paradise.
At the local level, police came under intense scrutiny for their sluggish handling of the investigation. Never mind that anger was building up because of the manner they were doing things in the days after the gruesome murders.
The fact that they were chasing the wrong lead did not help, not to mention the absence of prompt and immediate reaction, such as locking down this small island immediately after the killing.
Observers who understand the do's and don'ts at crime scenes have noted the authorities' unwillingness to prevent outsiders from trampling over physical evidence.
Such tardiness reflects the snail's pace of Thailand's bureaucracy and the country's law enforcement is not much different in this respect. Obviously, as this case has shown, sound judgement and leadership is lacking, not to mention common sense.
But this is just one of many cases. If law enforcers can blunder so much in spite of being under an intense spotlight, think of the other rape and murder cases they handle that don't get the national and international attention that this tragic case got.
According to latest reports, two migrant workers from Myanmar have admitted to the murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller.
As expected, they were presented to the public at a news conference. Damage control, perhaps. But this doesn't absolve the authorities of their lack of professionalism.
Beside the poor handling of the case, one spotlight that the police did not want revealed was the nature of the ties between them and migrant workers.
Yes, you guess it correctly - extortion.
According to our findings, out of the 5,000 migrant workers on Koh Tao, about 2,000 work illegally without proper permits. To get around that each 'illegal' has to pay police Bt500 a month. And if they want to use a motorcycle, that's another Bt500 a month to get around the driver's licence issue.
According to the local district chief, there are 3,300 migrant workers, mostly from Myanmar, registered to work on the island. By regulation, they have to pay Bt1,305 each year so they are entitled to the social security scheme.
As expected, the government went into damage-control mode and began to register all migrant workers in Surat Thani province, where Koh Tao is situated.
Whether these developments are enough to restore confidence among foreign visitors, no one could say. After all, no one in their right mind believes that the authorities don't know about this extortion and other irregularities. It's really sad that they have to wait for the gruesome murder of two British nationals to do something about it.
If Thai authorities really want to demonstrate that they are committed to public safety, they shouldn't have to wait until a public spotlight to force them to do so. Because if they crackdown on these irregularities, their action will speak for itself.
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
These men that have been charged have had no legal representation and human rights watch have started to make some noise.
The Surat Thani police are making very good business out of the migrants and the monies involved are huge.
The Surat Thani police are making very good business out of the migrants and the monies involved are huge.
Is Bangkok a place or a nasty injury.......Eric Morcombe.
Proud to be a Southampton FC Fan.
Proud to be a Southampton FC Fan.
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
Don't panic Kendo:
Rights group arranges lawyers for Myanmar men
A team of lawyers has been sent to help the two migrant Myanmar workers being charged with murdering two British tourists and raping one of them on Koh Tao, a prominent activist for the rights of migrant workers said yesterday.
The move came amid concerns that the arrested men may not be the real culprits.
Andy Hall, the activist for the rights of migrant workers in Thailand, tweeted yesterday that he was sending a team of lawyers to see the two Myanmar workers charged.
"We are sending the legal team [and] seek to gain access to the accused, to advise them on their rights under Thai law, and provide reliable translation," he said.
Full story: The Nation
Rights group arranges lawyers for Myanmar men
A team of lawyers has been sent to help the two migrant Myanmar workers being charged with murdering two British tourists and raping one of them on Koh Tao, a prominent activist for the rights of migrant workers said yesterday.
The move came amid concerns that the arrested men may not be the real culprits.
Andy Hall, the activist for the rights of migrant workers in Thailand, tweeted yesterday that he was sending a team of lawyers to see the two Myanmar workers charged.
"We are sending the legal team [and] seek to gain access to the accused, to advise them on their rights under Thai law, and provide reliable translation," he said.
Full story: The Nation
Championship Plymouth Argyle 1 - 2 Leeds Utd 
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
Let's hope that Someone has the idea to independently check the DNA. That reconstruction was an absolute circus the cops looked more worried about loss of face than the accused migrants.
I don't belive they are the perps.
I don't belive they are the perps.
Is Bangkok a place or a nasty injury.......Eric Morcombe.
Proud to be a Southampton FC Fan.
Proud to be a Southampton FC Fan.
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GLCQuantum
- Rock Star
- Posts: 3583
- Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:00 pm
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
One thing you have to think about regarding this case is...
This was how the Thai police function when they were being sructinized by the world. You can just imagine what they are like when they aren't.
This was how the Thai police function when they were being sructinized by the world. You can just imagine what they are like when they aren't.
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
Myanmar men say their colleagues were tortured prior to confessing
THREE MYANMAR workers based on Koh Tao off the Surat Thani coast have accused police of torturing them to try to extract information about the murder of two British citizens last month, a source said yesterday.
The three men were from a group of six Myanmar workers. The three were released by police but two colleagues were arrested and eventually charged with the murders, while the sixth man is believed to have agreed to give |evidence against the two who have been charged.
The three men who were released have alleged that Thai police poured hot water on them. They later met with a Myanmar labour leader who took photos of burn wounds on their bodies and sent them to the Myanmar embassy.
The embassy reportedly said later that it was ready to assist their |colleagues who have been charged.
The source also quoted the three who were released as citing a policeman's words while they were detained that "this issue will snowball if the Myanmar embassy has intervened into the detention and [alleged] torture".
Meanwhile, an unnamed Myanmar worker said most migrant workers wanted to stay working on Koh Tao despite their "dread" of Thai police, as they were sure of their innocence based on verification of DNA collected from the female victim's body would certainly not match theirs.
"But when they are unable to catch the real culprits, the Thai police turned to target Myanmar workers," the source said.
An unnamed business owner also commented that the arrest of the three men, one of whom was excused and spared for coming court testimony against the first two, was "suspiciously hurried", possibly to benefit themselves in connection with the annual Royal Thai Police reshuffle, or please the junta government.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 44906.html
THREE MYANMAR workers based on Koh Tao off the Surat Thani coast have accused police of torturing them to try to extract information about the murder of two British citizens last month, a source said yesterday.
The three men were from a group of six Myanmar workers. The three were released by police but two colleagues were arrested and eventually charged with the murders, while the sixth man is believed to have agreed to give |evidence against the two who have been charged.
The three men who were released have alleged that Thai police poured hot water on them. They later met with a Myanmar labour leader who took photos of burn wounds on their bodies and sent them to the Myanmar embassy.
The embassy reportedly said later that it was ready to assist their |colleagues who have been charged.
The source also quoted the three who were released as citing a policeman's words while they were detained that "this issue will snowball if the Myanmar embassy has intervened into the detention and [alleged] torture".
Meanwhile, an unnamed Myanmar worker said most migrant workers wanted to stay working on Koh Tao despite their "dread" of Thai police, as they were sure of their innocence based on verification of DNA collected from the female victim's body would certainly not match theirs.
"But when they are unable to catch the real culprits, the Thai police turned to target Myanmar workers," the source said.
An unnamed business owner also commented that the arrest of the three men, one of whom was excused and spared for coming court testimony against the first two, was "suspiciously hurried", possibly to benefit themselves in connection with the annual Royal Thai Police reshuffle, or please the junta government.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 44906.html
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
NOTE TO MODS: You may want to clean up this thread and remove some posts in light of the following (feel free to remove this post as well in the process, or at least my comment).
"Police charges for those accusing the police of using scapegoats
KOH TAO: -- The Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police has verified that the investigation of Koh Tao murders is completely transparent, and anybody accusing the police of arresting scapegoats could be charged with insulting officials, but people on social media sites are still questioning if the police have caught all of the killers and many questions remain unanswered.
On Saturday (October, 4), the Deputy Police Commissioner-General Pol Col Somyos Pumphanmuang gave an interview about the murder case of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Surat Thani and said that the investigation team did everything in order, and that the migrant workers the police arrested are not scapegoats there is evidence like video footage from CCTV, and the DNA samples from the suspects that match with the evidence found on the scene of murder to prove this.
The Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police also has warned people on social media who are criticizing the work of the people that sharing false information could lead to conflicts or misunderstandings because the case is now closed, and that people can disagree with the police but they also have to consider if the information they’re sharing is appropriate. People who share false information could be charged with insulting officials.
However, the members of CSI LA page on Facebook, have assumed and analyzed a lot of information which wasn’t revealed by the police, and this has made people question the investigation of the case. Also, there are many people who are curious that IF the migrant workers whom the police have caught are not scapegoats, have the police caught all of the killers? Because there are is a lot of suspicion, such as no mention of the condom which was found on the scene of murder, and the missing footages from CCT, that they believe make it seems like the police are trying to cover for someone.
People on social media believe that there are more than two people that killed the two British tourists than the police have caught. Questions like “who has the power to make the CCTV footage disappear?”, “whose condom was it that were found on the scene?”, “why did the Myanmar workers stay on the island after the murder?”, and “what’s the sentence for those who sheltered the killers?” are still in hot debate on the Social Media site and interest in the case shows no sign of abating.
-- Samui Times 2014-10-06"
"Police charges for those accusing the police of using scapegoats
KOH TAO: -- The Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police has verified that the investigation of Koh Tao murders is completely transparent, and anybody accusing the police of arresting scapegoats could be charged with insulting officials, but people on social media sites are still questioning if the police have caught all of the killers and many questions remain unanswered.
On Saturday (October, 4), the Deputy Police Commissioner-General Pol Col Somyos Pumphanmuang gave an interview about the murder case of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Surat Thani and said that the investigation team did everything in order, and that the migrant workers the police arrested are not scapegoats there is evidence like video footage from CCTV, and the DNA samples from the suspects that match with the evidence found on the scene of murder to prove this.
The Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police also has warned people on social media who are criticizing the work of the people that sharing false information could lead to conflicts or misunderstandings because the case is now closed, and that people can disagree with the police but they also have to consider if the information they’re sharing is appropriate. People who share false information could be charged with insulting officials.
However, the members of CSI LA page on Facebook, have assumed and analyzed a lot of information which wasn’t revealed by the police, and this has made people question the investigation of the case. Also, there are many people who are curious that IF the migrant workers whom the police have caught are not scapegoats, have the police caught all of the killers? Because there are is a lot of suspicion, such as no mention of the condom which was found on the scene of murder, and the missing footages from CCT, that they believe make it seems like the police are trying to cover for someone.
People on social media believe that there are more than two people that killed the two British tourists than the police have caught. Questions like “who has the power to make the CCTV footage disappear?”, “whose condom was it that were found on the scene?”, “why did the Myanmar workers stay on the island after the murder?”, and “what’s the sentence for those who sheltered the killers?” are still in hot debate on the Social Media site and interest in the case shows no sign of abating.
-- Samui Times 2014-10-06"
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
"Police says its tourist murder case file solid for prosecution"
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/police ... osecution/
"Police Clarify Koh Tao Victim's Cellphone 'Planting'"
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6§ion=
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/police ... osecution/
"Police Clarify Koh Tao Victim's Cellphone 'Planting'"
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6§ion=
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
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dtaai-maai
- Hero
- Posts: 14938
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:00 pm
- Location: UK, Robin Hood country
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
I don't know anything about the source "Coconuts Bangkok", but this is an interesting article.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2014/10/08/ ... estigation
http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2014/10/08/ ... estigation
This is the way
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europtimiste
- Banned
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Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
Police try to intimidate all those not believing in their investigations. More they speak, more suspicious they become. Those who don't believe them are thousands even ten thousands, just look at Facebook and Coconuts Bangkok sites. Let's see if they can charge all those people who just want a fair investigation.
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Bristolian
- Deceased
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- Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 1:38 pm
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Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
The telegraph throw open a few more questions in their report today
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... pects.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... pects.html
"'The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." - Mark Twain
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GLCQuantum
- Rock Star
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- Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:00 pm
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
The Thai Police (one should leave out the 'Royal' in these times as it could be construed as Lese Majeste associating the country's leader with these scumbags) have been here before and will be here again. 'Time heals all wounds', is their motto. With enough time their incompetance regarding this case will disappear into the void allowing it to rear it's ugly head again a little later down the line.
The best thing we can all do is keep it at the forefront of the news. Even the Thai people themselves have finally developed a voice and are criticizing the inaction of the benders in brown.
Thai police couldn't give a monkeys about the goings on of the rest of the world or its people. It's quite ironic that it could be the rest of the world that brings their filthy, money driven gang down to it's knees.
One can only hope.
The best thing we can all do is keep it at the forefront of the news. Even the Thai people themselves have finally developed a voice and are criticizing the inaction of the benders in brown.
Thai police couldn't give a monkeys about the goings on of the rest of the world or its people. It's quite ironic that it could be the rest of the world that brings their filthy, money driven gang down to it's knees.
One can only hope.
Re: Tourists murdered on Koh Tao
The other day at an interview, a senior Thai policeman basically commented, "This time we didn't arrest scapegoats..." which I suppose could get him into trouble for defaming the police by suggesting that at other times they do....anybody accusing the police of arresting scapegoats could be charged with insulting officials,...