A British businessman accused of causing a fatal motorcycle crash on Koh Phangan has been remanded in custody after the Koh Samui Provincial Court revoked his bail. The decision follows the death of Associate Professor Dr Teerasak Kaewamtuang, known locally as “Dr Ton”, who died on 7 June 2026 after spending 15 days in hospital with severe brain injuries.

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Duncan Wilcock, 51, a British national and owner of Reef Charter Co Ltd, based at Wok Tum Beach in Koh Phangan, Surat Thani province, appeared at Koh Phangan Police Station on 8 June to acknowledge an additional charge of reckless driving causing death. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 200,000 baht. He entered a partial denial to the charge.

The case stems from a crash on the night of 23 May, when Duncan riding a motorcycle that struck Dr Teerasak as he was exercising along a road in Moo 1, Koh Phangan. The collision occurred at 9.21pm and left the doctor with critical head injuries. Despite surgery and intensive treatment, he later died from his injuries.

Before the doctor’s death, Wilcock had been granted bail during the detention stage of the investigation, with a condition prohibiting him from leaving Thailand. However, police later sought the cancellation of his bail after the case escalated and the additional charge emerged.

Picture courtesy of Daily News

Investigators told the court that Wilcòck now faces 11 criminal charges in total, including offences linked to the fatal crash, drug use, nominee business activities and the operation of an illegal tour company. Police argued that the increased severity of the case and the potential penalties created a risk that he could flee.

According to police, Duncan attempted to delay proceedings by requesting time to wait for a lawyer travelling from another province. Investigators rejected the request and escorted him to court. At 3.45pm on 8 June, the Koh Samui Provincial Court ordered the cancellation of his bail and issued a detention warrant. He was transferred immediately to Koh Samui Prison.

The death of Dr Teerasak has prompted an outpouring of grief on Koh Phangan. The Koh Phangan Hospital Facebook page posted a tribute describing him as a highly skilled respiratory and critical care specialist who provided treatment for local residents. The hospital also called on relevant authorities to enforce stricter controls on foreign motorists and intensify efforts to combat drug abuse on the island.

The Daily News reported that as the investigation continues, Wilcock now remains in custody while legal proceedings move forward on all 11 charges.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 9 June 2026

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Can't believe he hung around....................

So he didn't swim to Cambodia 🤔

I noticed many dumb Farangs riding motorcycles on KP when I was there

They appeared to be riding very fast

Thank goodness I live in the North where you mostly see Thais riding very fast. (sarcasm)

Dumb people are everywhere 😭

Revoking his bail is the correct thing to do. He has already shown that he will try to escape his responsibilities!

Think this is the right thing to do especially with access to a boat thus avoiding typical border crossings, but is this a lesson learned from the red bull incident or discrimination

Make an example of him that this type of behavior will not be tolerated and excused from anyone from any country.Hopefully many will learn by his mistakes.

2 minutes ago, OldmanJ said:

Make an example of him that this type of behavior will not be tolerated and excused from anyone from any country.Hopefully many will learn by his mistakes.

Make an example to whom? Careless, reckless, self centered idiots who don't read or follow news or anything else that isn't on tiktok? And if they did, well: "yeah, but it won't happen to me". People keep doing this in spite of every "example" ever made in the history of driving. You can't fix stupid and that's all there is to it. Can we keep motorbikes out of the hands of reckless drivers? Making more effort these is possible in my opinion - is the government interested? Or do the rental companies' profits take precedence?

sensible precaution. too many foreigners jumping bail aided by corrupt officials.

A druggie rider becomes a deadly weapon, killing a man that saves lives, what a shame.

Revoking the bail was the right thing to do

11 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Death penalty ❓

Unlikely in general.

Wilcock did not commit murder punishable by death penalty but manslaughter that involves a lack of intent or malice. Murder requires factors such as deliberation, retaliation, planned attack, etc., with intent to kill. He was charged with reckless driving and possibly under influence of drugs that should not reach the level of murder.

But in Thailand he will face a bench trial by a Thai judge or panel of judges without conviction by an unanimous jury.

In Thailand manslaughter is not punishable by the death penalty. Under Sec. 290 of the Thai Penal Code manslaughter is defined as causing death without the intent to kill - punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to fifteen years.

With 11 charges I think he is facing 20+ years.

But in Thailand it appears that sentencing can sometimes be mitigated by cash, ie., paid to the victim's estate.

4 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Unlikely in general.

Wilcock did not commit murder punishable by death penalty but manslaughter that involves a lack of intent or malice. Murder requires factors such as deliberation, retaliation, planned attack, etc., with intent to kill. He was charged with reckless driving and possibly under influence of drugs that should not reach the level of murder.

But in Thailand he will face a bench trial by a Thai judge or panel of judges without conviction by an unanimous jury.

In Thailand manslaughter is not punishable by the death penalty. Under Sec. 290 of the Thai Penal Code manslaughter is defined as causing death without the intent to kill - punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to fifteen years.

With 11 charges I think he is facing 20+ years.

But in Thailand it appears that sentencing can sometimes be mitigated by cash, ie., paid to the victim's estate.

Thanks, to live in stinking cells with 20 other Thai convicts for more than 20 years might be even more appropriate

"According to police, Duncan attempted to delay proceedings by requesting time to wait for a lawyer travelling from another province. Investigators told the court that Wilcòck now faces 11 criminal charges in total, including offences linked to the fatal crash, drug use, nominee business activities and the operation of an illegal tour company."

I have an immediate dislike for this conniving individual. Not exactly a kid at 51 years old. Takes drugs, runs over a doctot at high speed and then starts playing "legal" games to give himself time to sell off assets and do a runner. The photo shows a man covering up his face completely and holding on the back of the police officer's shirt, a man with no pride. No surprise he entered a plea of partial denial, thinks he can outsmart the system and find a legal loophole. Well. Duncan, that loophole is firmly closed and forget about doing a runner.

24 minutes ago, jippytum said:

sensible precaution. too many foreigners jumping bail aided by corrupt officials.

There's also been the occasional former PM and billionaire heir.

There has been many documented cases of the almighty baht getting people off murder charges, this is Thailand land of corruption

I think this man is in it and deep.

why dont we start a campaign for safer road design ? None of the roads are adequate IMHO - there is no thought about traffic and pedestrian - there is no pavement for joggers and many people use noise cancelling headphones ....Many of the locals feed monkeys from a public road despite signs saying they should not....one monkey ran straight under the wheels of my bike....taxi drivers who used to be fishermen , novice tourist riders , burmese with no training , americans on the wrong side of the road...are all in the mix too as well as D & D....it's dangerous for sure . Respect to Dr Ton's family, sorry for your loss .....i intend to donate something towards the road dept ..down here ...

The good doctor, may he rest in peace, is only one of many people here in Thailand who have no sense of preservation for their own lives.

Anybody with any common sense at all does not exercise in a roadway. Roadways are for vehicular traffic, not for exercising.

There has got to be some accountability for people who think that everybody else is watching after them, instead of doing things defensively to protect their own life.

Death by dangerous driving bail granted, financial impropriety bail revoked .. Has he got enough coin to buy his way out by the look of it 🤔

4 hours ago, Off Piste said:

Can't believe he hung around....................

Where did you expect him to go? He had to surrender his passport, so he was not going to be able to fly out. His bail guarantee probably cleaned out all of his available funds, so he was not left with much money to pay for the runner. He may not have had anywhere to go even if he could do a runner.

58 minutes ago, twizzian said:

A druggie rider becomes a deadly weapon, killing a man that saves lives, what a shame.

Revoking the bail was the right thing to do

37 minutes ago, fittobethaied said:

The good doctor, may he rest in peace, is only one of many people here in Thailand who have no sense of preservation for their own lives.

Anybody with any common sense at all does not exercise in a roadway. Roadways are for vehicular traffic, not for exercising.

There has got to be some accountability for people who think that everybody else is watching after them, instead of doing things defensively to protect their own life.

Your attitude is unbelievable. So jogging is not allowed cos of some drug fueled <deleted> on a big bike, posing down the highway. Everyone stay off the streets, even in a country where street walking and jogging is a cultural norm, there's drugged up westerner breaking multiple laws coming. In Asia, the speed of city travel is way slower, aside form the odd teeny ripper, which every country has.

12 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Where did you expect him to go? He had to surrender his passport, so he was not going to be able to fly out. His bail guarantee probably cleaned out all of his available funds, so he was not left with much money to pay for the runner. He may not have had anywhere to go even if he could do a runner.

He was arrested initially on a boat trying to leave the island. "On May 24, investigators led by Pol Col Apichat Jansamret tracked the suspect through CCTV footage and arrested British national Duncan Wilcock while he was hiding aboard a tour boat. Police said the suspect later confessed to causing the crash."

He should never have been granted bail in the first place due to the seriousness of the incident; but at least they have now put that right.

Imagine if a Thai visiting the UK did this to a respected doctor there?

-These awful foreigners here give us all a bad name.

"The Koh Phangan Hospital Facebook page posted a tribute describing him as a highly skilled respiratory and critical care specialist who provided treatment for local residents." Which probably resulted in him being highly respected and loved by the community.

They 'threw the book' at this drug fueled farang. I get that.

The subtext is: if you are a drug fueled, whacko high speed motorcyclist on dangerous roads here, try only to hit banana vendors, construction workers, etc.... save yourself time and money.

This is so sad. ''.......Dr Teerasak as he was exercising along a road in Moo 1, Koh Phangan. The collision occurred at 9.21pm ''. No pavement ?.... any street lighting ?

Hopefully the keep fit fraternity will take note.

Mr Wilcock, enjoy your stay with the fellow inmates.

On a point of order, if one is out on bail and bail is revoked...... what happens to the bail money?

Koh Samui Court Revokes Brit’s Bail Over Fatal Crash

Nice one ,Lock him up for as long as possible .He's been a very naughty boy doing all those things , He deserves all that he can get and some extra playtime .in Jail.

Thai media think he will get 10-13 years sentence.

A Thai Professor Doctor died.

Unthinkable that he can pay his way out of this. Never.

RIP.

He chose to injure and kill the wrong person, a wealthy and respected Thai, different if it was a low class Som Chai, would have just brought himself out of trouble.