Thailand News

[bander]

My brother was found dead on the beach in Lamai som years ago,only travel checks and passport missing.

The Koh Samoi police never found the killer.

Maybe som fishermen tried to get some bigger fish on the beach?

[phuketrichard]

Whats even worse is the Bangkok Post reported this is the THIRD rape since Last Oct with one being a 13 year old girl.

With all the troubles in Samui, the Mafia, the high prices and terriable traffic and flodding, I am amazed anyone goes there over other destinations in Thailand.

[john b good]

good job, it shows what the thai police can do if they get off their asses and put 100% into something.. Its a shame it takes international pressure to make this happen though

Hey! slow down. The fact that they have arrested someone does not mean they have arrested the right man.

Thaksin told them solve the case as it's bad for Thailand's image. They arrest someone, Thaksins happy, Thailands image is that now it's safe to visit the realm and hey presto every one is happy (other than perhaps the person who might have been wrongly arrested)

No one is interested if justice is done or not as long as tourists continue to flock to the realm.

[Losangels]

good job, it shows what the thai police can do if they get off their asses and put 100% into something.. Its a shame it takes international pressure to make this happen though

Hey! slow down. The fact that they have arrested someone does not mean they have arrested the right man.

Thaksin told them solve the case as it's bad for Thailand's image. They arrest someone, Thaksins happy, Thailands image is that now it's safe to visit the realm and hey presto every one is happy (other than perhaps the person who might have been wrongly arrested)

No one is interested if justice is done or not as long as tourists continue to flock to the realm.

Agree. Confessing to the police doesn't necessarily mean they are the real rapist. Especially when the cops are under pressure to solve the case.

[Virgil]

good job, it shows what the thai police can do if they get off their asses and put 100% into something.. Its a shame it takes international pressure to make this happen though

What??????????? Are you kidding? The Thai police do as good a job of investigating crime and solving cases as any police force. Most murders in Thailand are solved by police, whether they involve tourists or not. They use DNA testing just like any other police force. In fact, they might use it more ... DNA testing in Thailand is likely to be cheaper than in most western countries.

I'm reminded of a matter in 2004, I think, where two Thai prostitutes were murdered in Darwin, NT, Australia. They were tied up and drowned in a croc infested river. Their bodies were recovered before the crocs got them. It was months before the Australian police pressed charges. There was plenty of international pressure over that one.

I think the Thai police do a pretty good job, especially considering the weather they have to contend with ... every bloody day! I've seen plenty of police in America, UK, Japan, France, Italy ... oh! the Italian Police ... and various countries in Africa, all appearing to be "not-too-busy". But I've also seen police in each of those countries do a fine job. Especially the Thai police.

Congrats to them for catching the bastards who did this. And "poo poo" to police bashing.

[Wes Turner]

good job, it shows what the thai police can do if they get off their asses and put 100% into something.. Its a shame it takes international pressure to make this happen though

What??????????? Are you kidding? The Thai police do as good a job of investigating crime and solving cases as any police force. Most murders in Thailand are solved by police, whether they involve tourists or not. They use DNA testing just like any other police force. In fact, they might use it more ... DNA testing in Thailand is likely to be cheaper than in most western countries.

I'm reminded of a matter in 2004, I think, where two Thai prostitutes were murdered in Darwin, NT, Australia. They were tied up and drowned in a croc infested river. Their bodies were recovered before the crocs got them. It was months before the Australian police pressed charges. There was plenty of international pressure over that one.

I think the Thai police do a pretty good job, especially considering the weather they have to contend with ... every bloody day! I've seen plenty of police in America, UK, Japan, France, Italy ... oh! the Italian Police ... and various countries in Africa, all appearing to be "not-too-busy". But I've also seen police in each of those countries do a fine job. Especially the Thai police.

Congrats to them for catching the bastards who did this. And "poo poo" to police bashing.

Here here!

It is often assumed that because many Thais are generally lazy that so are the police.

More often than no they are 'disinterested' when a drunken English Arsenal fan is shouting at them because his wallet has been lost during his stupor.

[chuchok]

good job, it shows what the thai police can do if they get off their asses and put 100% into something.. Its a shame it takes international pressure to make this happen though

What??????????? Are you kidding? The Thai police do as good a job of investigating crime and solving cases as any police force. Most murders in Thailand are solved by police, whether they involve tourists or not. They use DNA testing just like any other police force. In fact, they might use it more ... DNA testing in Thailand is likely to be cheaper than in most western countries.

I'm reminded of a matter in 2004, I think, where two Thai prostitutes were murdered in Darwin, NT, Australia. They were tied up and drowned in a croc infested river. Their bodies were recovered before the crocs got them. It was months before the Australian police pressed charges. There was plenty of international pressure over that one.

I think the Thai police do a pretty good job, especially considering the weather they have to contend with ... every bloody day! I've seen plenty of police in America, UK, Japan, France, Italy ... oh! the Italian Police ... and various countries in Africa, all appearing to be "not-too-busy". But I've also seen police in each of those countries do a fine job. Especially the Thai police.

Congrats to them for catching the bastards who did this. And "poo poo" to police bashing.

In most circumstanses that we see here day to day, IMHO the Thai police are about as much use as tits on a bull. Good on them for this one, but to think anyway else is blinkered.

[sriracha john]

good job, it shows what the thai police can do if they get off their asses and put 100% into something.. Its a shame it takes international pressure to make this happen though

What??????????? Are you kidding? The Thai police do as good a job of investigating crime and solving cases as any police force. Most murders in Thailand are solved by police, whether they involve tourists or not.

GOSH!!!

How many murders ARE there in Thailand... provided that "most are solved"... if 2,500 is less than half??

Police officers' slow completion of reports on extrajudicial killings in drug-related cases has led to lingering doubts about the overall total of more than 2,500 unresolved deaths during the government's war on illegal narcotics, a senior prosecutor said.

[george]

BANGKOK POST NEWS FLASH:

DNA tests Monday afternoon indicated that 2 Thai fishermen who confessed to murder of British tourist Katherine Horton rape victim.

The two suspects have been brought to Bangkok for DNA tests and it's confirmed their semen matches samples from two men found in Horton's body during an autopsy.

--Bangkok Post 2006-01-09 15:05

[jaapfries]

good job, it shows what the thai police can do if they get off their asses and put 100% into something.. Its a shame it takes international pressure to make this happen though

What??????????? Are you kidding? The Thai police do as good a job of investigating crime and solving cases as any police force. Most murders in Thailand are solved by police, whether they involve tourists or not. They use DNA testing just like any other police force. In fact, they might use it more ... DNA testing in Thailand is likely to be cheaper than in most western countries.

I'm reminded of a matter in 2004, I think, where two Thai prostitutes were murdered in Darwin, NT, Australia. They were tied up and drowned in a croc infested river. Their bodies were recovered before the crocs got them. It was months before the Australian police pressed charges. There was plenty of international pressure over that one.

I think the Thai police do a pretty good job, especially considering the weather they have to contend with ... every bloody day! I've seen plenty of police in America, UK, Japan, France, Italy ... oh! the Italian Police ... and various countries in Africa, all appearing to be "not-too-busy". But I've also seen police in each of those countries do a fine job. Especially the Thai police.

Congrats to them for catching the bastards who did this. And "poo poo" to police bashing.

===================================================================

Virgil; anyone who actually knows what he/she is talking about (viz. having lived in this Kingdom for a substantial period) will totally agree with you !

It's oh so easy to criticise the Thai Police, but beware, because there's a big difference between "street-cops" and "criminal investigative cops" in this country.

These chaps take their jobs very seriously and are very motivated and highly skilled in the various disciplines of their chosen carreers - ergo; a good many of them have been trained in the US, Canada & OZ.

But hey; don't take it for granted: just try and rob a bank, or something - and see how you go . . . . . . .

[sriracha john]

The accused Bualoy and Wichai.

One of the suspects, Bualoy Kotisith, 23, told police he had assaulted and raped Horton, while the other suspect, Wichai Suankhaoyai, 24, confessed to being an accomplice to her murder, police said.

"The doctor confirms that semen that was found on the body of Katherine Horton belongs to Bualoy and Vichai and the court has issued an arrest warrant," said Deputy Chief of National Police Gen. Phrewphan Damaphong.

[george]

DNA tests confirm fisherman raped and murdered British tourist

BANGKOK: -- DNA tests results released on Monday afternoon indicated that two Thai fishermen who confessed to the murder of British tourist Katherine Horton raped the victim, local police confirmed today.

Earlier today, police announced that the two suspects had confessed to the rape and murder of Horton, who was attacked during an evening beach stroll on New Year's Day at a resort island in Thailand.

One of the suspects, Bualoy Kotisith, 23, told police he had assaulted and raped Horton, while the other suspect, Wichai Suankhaoyai, 24, confessed to being an accomplice to her murder, police said.

"The doctor had confirmed that the semen that was found on the body of Katherine Horton belongs to Bualoy and Vichai and the court has issued an arrest warrant,"

Deputy Chief of National Police Gen. Phrewphan Damaphong said.

--The Nation 2006-01-09

[lom]

Anyone who has seen these two guys on tv has probably also noticed that they seem very aware of their future.

This case has drawn so much international attention that a life sentence is most likely out of question..

A sad ending story for all of the involved.

[limbos]

Thai 3 had this as headlining story of the 17.30 news with shots of Katherine on the beach how they found her and the 2 accused in various stages of the forensic research in a BKK hospital.

I've been told many times that if the fisher boats are in the bay(normally due to bad weatherconditions) there's a lot of trouble in town. We probably don't get to know about it untill now when unfortunately these two smugs decide to rape anybody that comes their way and it happened to be Katherine.

In their statement, according to TV 3, they state that they've been watching porn vdo's or dvd's and than decided to go to land and rape somebody.

<deleted> unreal but I'm almost afraid to know how many times this happens to Thai girls.

Edited January 9, 2006 by limbos

[Anon999]

Thaksin told them solve the case as it's bad for Thailand's image. They arrest someone, Thaksins happy, Thailands image is that now it's safe to visit the realm and hey presto every one is happy (other than perhaps the person who might have been wrongly arrested)

No one is interested if justice is done or not as long as tourists continue to flock to the realm.

Don't be so cynical or is it your 'style'? Try waiting until the result of the DNA tests are known, then you can be as cynical as you like!

[kat]

Anyone who has seen these two guys on tv has probably also noticed that they seem very aware of their future.

This case has drawn so much international attention that a life sentence is most likely out of question..

A sad ending story for all of the involved.

Actually, I don't think that anything is guranteed here. A police officer committed a double murder in cold blood last year, and yet he did not get the death sentence. I am not pro-death sentence, but I like to see people fully serving for their crimes.

As for having sympathy for all involved, I have to say you must be a much bigger person than me. I have absolutely no remorse for these two, who, after having savagedly bludgeoned, dragged, and then raped this young woman, thoughtlessly and carelessly threw her overboard like the used packets of a fast food lunch. I want them to have fates worse than the most miserable, diseased-infested soi dogs.

[Insight]

As for having sympathy for all involved, I have to say you must be a much bigger person than me. I have absolutely no remorse for these two, who, after having savagedly bludgeoned, dragged, and then raped this young woman, thoughtlessly and carelessly threw her overboard like the used packets of a fast food lunch. I want them to have fates worse than the most miserable, diseased-infested soi dogs.

I'm with you on that one Kat. Not to mention bragging about it!

[kat]

We probably don't get to know about it untill now when unfortunately these two smugs decide to rape anybody that comes their way and it happened to be Katherine.

In their statement, according to TV 3, they state that they've been watching pron vdo's or dvd's and than decided to go to land and rape somebody.

<deleted> unreal but I'm almost afraid to know how many times this happens with Thai girls.

My thoughts exactly. We also don't know how many times these beasts have already raped and harmed other innocent people, or possible innocent soi dogs, for that matter.

[limbos]

Anyone who has seen these two guys on tv has probably also noticed that they seem very aware of their future.

This case has drawn so much international attention that a life sentence is most likely out of question..

A sad ending story for all of the involved.

Actually, I don't think that anything is guranteed here. A police officer committed a double murder in cold blood last year, and yet he did not get the death sentence. I am not pro-death sentence, but I like to see people fully serving for their crimes.

As for having sympathy for all involved, I have to say you must be a much bigger person than me. I have absolutely no remorse for these two, who, after having savagedly bludgeoned, dragged, and then raped this young woman, thoughtlessly and carelessly threw her overboard like the used packets of a fast food lunch. I want them to have fates worse than the most miserable, diseased-infested soi dogs.

Fully agree Kat.

[Anon999]

Thaksin told them solve the case as it's bad for Thailand's image. They arrest someone, Thaksins happy, Thailands image is that now it's safe to visit the realm and hey presto every one is happy (other than perhaps the person who might have been wrongly arrested)

No one is interested if justice is done or not as long as tourists continue to flock to the realm

Don't be so cynical or is it your 'style'? Try waiting until the result of the DNA tests are known, then you can be as cynical as you like!

Have just seen on BBC that the Thai police have confirmed the DNA samples match those of the arrested fishermen. That is good news for everyone, the family most importantly and for all tourists too.

Maybe the cynical will now eat humble pie but I doubt it. I will not hold my breath waiting to see their posts apologising to the Thai's for getting the job done and the right men arrested. Regardless of the reasons for their motivation I think congratulations are due for a job well done.

[kat]

Well, they proved that with help from Bangkok, they can get the job done, provided of course, that the accused is not a police officer, an MP or relative, or some other rich and influential person.

Thank you for your soap box, but some of us LIVE here, and know the score. When they start to show signs of real and consistent changes, I will be the first one to sing their praises.

There have been many other unsolved foreign murders, but I believe the British Government is starting to exert considerable international pressure through the media because so many of their nationals have been killed over the last year or so.

Edited January 9, 2006 by kat

[Hadrian1]

Anon999,

Yes, let's hope that they have caught the correct people. But don't you remember the case of Kirsty Jones, another Welsh student murdered in Thailand a few years back. That case really didn't engender much faith in the Thai police service. By the way, the rapist/murderer is still at large.......

[Foggy Bottom]

Well, they proved that with help from Bangkok, they can get the job done, provided of course, that the accused is not a police officer, an MP or relative, or some other rich and influential person.

Thank you for your soap box, but some of us LIVE here, and know the score.

A cautious agreement from me ..... they caught the monk who murdered the Brit girl years ago, they did finally catch and convict Pol Sgt Somchai in Kanchanaburi last year, etc.

However....... Duangchalerm got away with the cop killing despite overwhelming evidence while he was on the run, Thaksin's son was cleared of cheating on university exams and awarded the bosses job (I'm told) at Chiangmai Night Safari - the project that no-one in Chiangmai wanted, a Si Racha Mafioso, charged in the 1990's with conspiracy to murder gets to be a top politician in 2004, the Prime Minister that dragged Thailand into the 1997 economic crisis gets to be Deputy PM under TRT and owns casinos across the border while leading the vote against legalised gambling in Thailand etc etc etc

For long term expats, the problem with Thailand is the transparency of corrupt and nepotistic practices, whilst being told that it's all being cleaned up and done away with - the more cleaning up that's done, the more that becomes visible to those of us that can remember past last night.

Responding to some poster's earlier comments - the Chiangmai murder of Kirsty Jones can potentially be very simply and easily solved if only one action is taken - they have the DNA records from the semen extracted from her body (which forensics state could not have been artificially inserted due to where it was found inside her) ... therefore - DNA test every cop of every division that was a serving or recently retired officer during the 12 months prior to her murder. That will once and for all lay to rest or prove the "killer cop" theory. Unless of course that particular suspect has a politician Mum or Dad (Thaksin's sister is MP for Chiangmai, not Thaksin - not that I'm implying anything there as I don't know if they have children serving in the police).

Again, it comes back to cost and the universal Thai wail of "but Thailand is a poor country and Thai people have no money" - yeah right, I'd be happy with 1% of the interest that some of the top Thais earn each year. So why not delay building a new superhighway past the Shinawatra silk factories for a year, and do the DNA test & register of all the cops in the country - the database might be needed again in the future anyway, so might as well do it now. If America can introduce the facility to DNA register every future visitor to their country, and given the reputation of Thai police, then Thailand not only can afford to DNA register every cop in the kingdom, but MUST do it to preserve the integrity of an instuitution too prone to yielding rogues.

[Anon999]

Anon999,

Yes, let's hope that they have caught the correct people. But don't you remember the case of Kirsty Jones, another Welsh student murdered in Thailand a few years back. That case really didn't engender much faith in the Thai police service. By the way, the rapist/murderer is still at large.......

Yes I do remember it but things have moved on a some since then with outside pressure being a major factor. There are of course many similar cases in the UK where the rapist/murderer is still at large many years after the event, some that involved foreign students.

Obviously what everyone wants is to see this level of competence maintained across the whole country and consistently. However, that only comes with time but having proved they can do it then encouragement is needed to help maintain that level of performance.

[limbos]

DNA tests identify alleged killers, Horton’s murder case closed

Published on January 09, 2006

Police Monday wrapped up the investigation into the rape and murder of Welsh tourist Katherine Horton after DNA tests showed that two fishermen had raped her.

Deputy Police Commissioner-General Preophan Dhamapong said DNA samples from the two suspects matched with those extracted from semen found on the body of Horton and the two had confessed raping and killing her.

Preophan told a press conference in Bangkok that the results of the DNA tests on Bualoy Phosit, 23, and Wichai Sonkhaoyai, 24, came out Monday and confirmed the confessions of the two.

He said police would forward the case to public prosecutors to charge the two in court as soon as possible.

According to Preophan, Bualoy from Ubol Ratchathani and Wichai from Nakhon Si Thammarat were assigned to watch over their fishing boat by the boat owner on New Year Day.

The two drank and watched pornographic video and planned to rape someone.

Preaophan said the two swam ashore using small oil tanks as buoys. Coming ashore, they spotted Horton talking on a phone all alone on the beach. One of them knocked her down using the wooden handle of an umbrella beach.

They dragged her to behind a rock about 40 metres away from the spot they hit her.

After raping her, the two beat Horton, who remained unconscious, several times until they thought she might be dead. The two then dragged her body about 20 metres into the sea and they swam back to their fishing boat, Preaphan said.

"They could face the death penalty on charges of rape, premeditated murder, and hiding the body of the victim," Preophan told the press conference.

Both men were arrested before dawn Monday on Samui and brought to Bangkok pending the test results.

Horton's body was found one week ago in the sea off Samui. She was visiting the country on a short vacation before her final exams at university in Britain.

Her father and brother flew to the island last week to see the scene of the crime, and her body was repatriated on Friday.

[kat]

" ... Obviously what everyone wants is to see this level of competence maintained across the whole country and consistently. However, that only comes with time but having proved they can do it then encouragement is needed to help maintain that level of performance."

Yes, Anon, your sentiment is in the right place but the issue for most of us is trust. It is not just a matter of can they do it, but WILL they do it. Until I start to see this consistently and across the board, I will be able to trust that the unsolved murders are those that are simply ... unsolved.

*Edit: about the above article: How does the removed note on the bungalow door and missing shoes figure into all of this? Strange. And has anyone heard any more information about the little Swedish girl that was raped by someone at her resort? I can't find anything on that case.

Edited January 9, 2006 by kat

[gareth1]

Diolch yn fawr i MIB o Cymru

Llugaid am Llugaid

Amen

TRANSLATION

Thank you to the MIB from Wales.

Eye for an eye.

Amen.

[limbos]

" ... Obviously what everyone wants is to see this level of competence maintained across the whole country and consistently. However, that only comes with time but having proved they can do it then encouragement is needed to help maintain that level of performance."

Yes, Anon, your sentiment is in the right place but the issue for most of us is trust. It is not just a matter of can they do it, but WILL they do it. Until I start to see this consistently and across the board, I will be able to trust that the unsolved murders are those that are simply ... unsolved.

*Edit: about the above article: How does the removed note on the bungalow door and missing shoes figure into all of this? Strange. And has anyone heard any more information about the little Swedish girl that was raped by someone at her resort? I can't find anything on that case.

Kat,

The note apparently was found in a nearby bungalow's garbage can and the shoes could've been taken by anybody really...

The Swedish girls rape was mentioned in the Swedish press, but very briefly. The offender said that the intercourse was consensual and the girl agreed!

Diolch yn fawr i MIB o Cymru

Llugaid am Llugaid

Amen

TRANSLATION

Thank you to the MIB from Wales.

Eye for an eye.

Amen.

What have the MIB from Wales to do with this case?

Enquiring minds wonder..........

[Insight]

I read it as a thankyou to the Thai MIB from the people of Wales.

[limbos]

Sorry Gareth!

Guess you're right Insight!