Thai police question speedboat driver over British murders on Koh Tao

[webfact]

Thai police question speedboat driver over British murders

BANGKOK, September 22, 2014 (AFP) - Thai police said they carried out a DNA test late Sunday on a speedboat driver arrested for a drug offence, as they extended their hunt for the killer of two British holidaymakers on a resort island.

The battered bodies of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were found on a beach on Koh Tao island nearly a week ago.

The investigation into the grisly double murder has so far drawn a blank, with police under increasing pressure to find the assailants.

A 23-year-old Thai man was arrested Sunday for an unspecified drug offence, according to Kiattipong Khawsamang of Surat Thani provincial police.

"We are waiting for the (result) of his DNA test... It is not clear if he is a suspect yet" in the murder case, Kiattipong told AFP, adding that the man drives a speedboat between Koh Tao and the nearby island of Koh Samui.

Police are also searching for two friends of the driver, Kiattipong said, without giving further details.

Deputy National Police chief Somyot Poompanmoung told AFP the man was being questioned but had not been arrested or charged over the murders.

Earlier Somyot said the DNA of two Asian men was found at the crime scene and had been sent to Singapore for advanced analysis.

Forensic experts in Bangkok discovered traces of semen at the scene but could not find a DNA match with the 12 people they have questioned so far over the case.

Those questioned included two of Miller's British friends and several migrant workers from Myanmar.

The murders rocked the normally laid-back holiday island, which is popular with divers, and delivered a fresh blow to Thailand's image as a tourist haven after months of political protests that ended in May's army coup.

Thailand's most senior police officers have descended on Koh Tao amid accusations -- led by the British media -- of a bungled investigation.

Critics have said police chased the wrong leads, failed to lock down the island and poorly secured the crime scene in the hours after the badly beaten bodies were found early last Monday.

Witheridge's family, who travelled to Bangkok to retrieve their daughter's body, issued a statement on Sunday requesting privacy.

"We have now returned to the UK with our beautiful Hannah," said the statement, which was released on their behalf by the British Foreign Office.

"Our family is broken and require time to grieve in private -- as do Hannah's many friends," the family said, adding they will help with the investigation "to bring those responsible to justice".

Thailand's military ruler Prayut Chan-O-Cha -- who is also the prime minister -- made a rare public apology on Thursday after he suggested tourists in bikinis could be more vulnerable to attack.

His comments were widely pilloried as sexist and insensitive following the brutal double murder and he has since sent letters of condolence to the British prime minister as well as the victims' families.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-09-22

[Fred Flinstone]

Good to see they appear more pro active-

Hope they nail the right person(s)

[SteveFong]

not sure what benefit there is to trying to damp the light, now that they have opened that door?

shedding light on a topic can not be bad

[Paulzed]

At this rate the Police will be interviewing everyone in Thailand about this ma tter, and most likely everyone in the world with mongaloid DNA.....

[coma]

I wonder if this speedboat driver is the same person as the " island gangster" the male victim is said to have seen in the company of earlier that evening.

[siampolee]

Seems as if there is now a real panic investigation into this horrific crime and the police farce force are going to find a scapegoat or if things work out properly the actual killer(s) of the victims.

Pressure is building up internationally as well as internally thus there has got to be seen a positive outcome.

However if it is of course truthful outcome or not is indeed going to be a moot point

Interesting to note the involvement of social media in this horrific crime.One wonders now just how long before the police and other ''interested parties, the police and suspects''start a campaign to block Facebook here in Thailand as it would seem as if F.B. has exposed the gross ineptness of the police and no doubt the lubrication of lucre as well to smooth the motion of ''investigations''along with the opening up of a view on the underworld movement on the island and elsewhere too in Thailand.

[JeremyBowskill]

So a speedboat driver fails a p!ss test and somehow this is a lead? Wonder what percentage would actually pass 1..........

[taony]

All this time and they are interviewing one speedboat driver? And only bc he was arrested for something else! Every boat driver should have been interviewed from the start!

[doremifasol]

Keep searching for a scapegoat............

[metisdead]

Posts containing links to a facebook page and calling for other to take a look at that link have been removed as per this forum rule:

6) You will not post comments that could be reasonably construed as defamation or libel.

Defamation is the issuance of a statement about another person or business which causes that person to suffer harm. It does not have to be false to be defamatory. Libel is when the defamatory statement is published either in a drawing, painting, cinematography, film, picture or letters made visible by any means, or any other recording instruments, recording picture or letters, or by broadcasting or spreading picture, or by propagation by any other means. Defamation is both a civil and criminal charge in Thailand.

As facebook is not an accredited source of information, the information posted on that facebook page could be construed as defamatory. Thailand has tough Libel laws and save members any harm the posts have been removed. Please do not continue to link to the facebook site. Let's wait until some other news source breaks the news.

Edit to add: Due to the computer crime act in Thailand, it’s not wise to post screenshots of Sean McAnna’s FB page or to name the alleged killer yourself.

[sweatalot]

I guess the pressure has to be so high that they cannot afford to present a scapegoat

And if they present somebody and it is not crystal clear that they are the real perps - pressure has to be strengthend even more

It is the responsibility of everybody not to allow them to destroy another life for keeping their stupid face (which is utterly lost already)

and letting another gangster/s untouched

[nitehawk56]

Only one speedboat driver, the last I read was that now the Police have determined that there were as many as three people who committed this crime.

[metisdead]

A post containing a reference to a King has been removed, it would be wise not make any Royal references in any posts, doesn't matter if the reference is toward a King in the past.

[nitehawk56]

Speaking about Face Book , what happened if anything to the Police Officers who posted photos of the deceased on Face Book???

[davejonesbkk]

this is interesting:

Thai motorbike gang mugged British women night before backpacker couple were murdered on Koh Tao island

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/11111774/Thai-motorbike-gang-mugged-British-women-night-before-backpacker-couple-were-murdered-on-Koh-Tao-island.html

[BSJ]

It's sad in this modern world to see a police force that has all the characteristics of the Keystone cops.

[maccastime]

So now when females are applying for a Tourist Visa,there will be a warning not to wear a Bikini in Thailand??

[ScotBkk]

So now when females are applying for a Tourist Visa,there will be a warning not to wear a Bikini in Thailand??

You think the same warnings should be given out to all the Katoeys who parade up and down displaying there wares in certain public areas (Not a Pun) .......

[swifty5x5]

Police question crabs and fish found near the crime scene.

[Konini]

this is interesting:

Thai motorbike gang mugged British women night before backpacker couple were murdered on Koh Tao island

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/11111774/Thai-motorbike-gang-mugged-British-women-night-before-backpacker-couple-were-murdered-on-Koh-Tao-island.html

Makes for some very interesting reading, and more importantly not from a red-top newspaper. Good fund,

[brubakertx]

I once missed my 90 day check-in date at the Immigration. Does that mean, they need to check my DNA, just in case they need another lead in this case?

[iamariva1957]

Regardless of anyone's opinion of the Thai Police and their abilities or their supposed inabilities, we have to remember that this is a real life investigation. It is not an episode of 'CSI' or 'Law and Order' programs; DNA tests take time and investigations take time and require patients from all of us and especially... with great pain... the families.

It will be difficult road and I am sure that there will be 'wild goose chase' situations that will arise, and we will have to be understanding that these will happen, even in the West and elsewhere.

With the FBI lab now being utilized and the local plod has asked for assistance in solving this case and their increased focus on doing the job they are mandated to, there is hope that those responsible will be caught and prosecuted with the utmost rigor of the law.

[Thai at Heart]

All good

Actually, I don't need to know, since by blabbing this around it warns his accomplices

[Rimmer]

Some disrespectful troll posts and a flame removed

[PoorSucker]

Racist slur and responses removed.

[nitehawk56]

Last I read , the Thai Police sent the DNA Samples to Singapore and decided not to get the FBI involved.

[Strangebrew]

The Keystone cops were at least funny This is sick. Talk about ruining tourism Just look how safe a tourist is with police who can't find there own butt with both hands. General If your reading this It is time for you sir to step in and take charge And bring this to an end.

[seajae]

this is interesting:

Thai motorbike gang mugged British women night before backpacker couple were murdered on Koh Tao island

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/11111774/Thai-motorbike-gang-mugged-British-women-night-before-backpacker-couple-were-murdered-on-Koh-Tao-island.html

Makes for some very interesting reading, and more importantly not from a red-top newspaper. Good fund,

Have to agree, this is the first decent article that has been published and it actually explains several things, something no one else has done.

[Ulic]

Not sure if they will catch the killers but with the spotlight of the press focused on the investigation and with

tourist levels at stake Po Po will look under every rock leaving no stone unturned to find this scum.

[xerostar]

It appears that the criminal elements are spreading their influence from their home on Ko Samui.

They may have felt less vulnerable to being identified or caught while they were on a day trip from Ko Samui in their speed boat.

It will be interesting to see the results of this proper DNA test done in Singapore.

It's strange that a country who can afford to buy the latest super jets for its fleet can't afford to buy one proper DNA test machine!

Of course a proper DNA machine has to be surrounded in very tight security without a hint of corruption.

Not any easy one for LOS.

My son worked for a factory in Switzerland where they manufactured the DNA machines.

He told me the FBI were constantly on the premises making sure everything was above board.