Terrified Briton flees Koh Tao after 'mafia' death threat

[Utley]

So they're still trying to pin it on a foreigner.

I don't see why the new Prime Minister doesn't send the army into this lawless place and audit everyone who lives there to weed out the seemingly endemic corruption.

Martial law is still in effect isn't it ?

Who are these 5 families who are so important that even the prime minister can't touch them ?

Tourism to the island would take a nose dive if they convicted a Thai for the crime. They have to find a foreigner, preferably a Burmese, to take the fall.

[mataleo]

Frightened British tourist says Thai Mafia may have killed the two British tourists in Koh Tao

BANGKOK: -- As Thai police now said they have obtained photograph of two Thai men while sexually harassing the British tourist Hannah Witheridge and assaulting her friend David Miller while trying to protect her at a beach bar, another British man who was friend to David recalled the nightmare on the night of the murder to British newspapers today of being threatened with life by Thai mafias who tried to force him to admit to the murder of the two victims.

He fled the Thai island where two British backpackers were murdered last week after claiming the “mafia” was trying to hang him, according to the UK-based The Telegraph newspapers.

The papers said Sean McAnna, 25, from Shotts near Glasgow, was a friend of David Miller, the tourist whose body was found last Monday on Koh Tao island along with that of Hannah Witheridge.

Sean McAnna, 26, from, Shotts, Lanarkshire, made the allegations on Facebook at 4am after he fled and took refuge in a 24 hour convenience store on the island and posted a picture he took of his alleged pursuers.

He also identified whom he believed was one of the killers.

And he asked for Sky Television to phone him. McAnna was quickly given consular advice and protected by friends until he caught a ferry off the island later in the day. His posts were taken down.

Sean McAnna later revealed how he slept all night in the jungle and then for a while around 7 am this morning under a snooker table in a bar.

In the early hours of the morning he had been drinking in a beach bar when he was accused by two Thais of being the killer he was allegedly the guitarist in a group of people singing on the beach on the morning of Hannah and David’s murders.

You have blood on your hands, they said adding that he should be strung up and hanged from a tree. He fled the bar and took refuge in the convenience story pursed by the two men, he said. That’s when he took the picture.

“So I just ran. I just left and ran.”

Mr McAnna claimed that two Thai men, who he believes may have crucial information about the murders, threatened to kill him in the early hours of Monday morning while he was drinking at a bar on Sairee beach near to where their disfigured bodies were discovered.

He fled, took refuge in a nearby supermarket and was only able to leave when police were called and arrived on the scene at around 5am. They questioned the two Thai men but no arrests were made.

He later posted on his Facebook recalling the nightmare in Koh Tao trying to flee from the Mafia who he said might have information.

With those two men still at large, Mr McAnna said he spent the day in hiding before fleeing Koh Tao fearing he could be killed if he stayed.

“I need to get off this island,” a tearful and visibly nervous Mr McAnna told The Telegraph during an interview conducted inside the back of a taxi before he departed.

“I genuinely thought that was the day I was going to die,” Mr McAnna said. “I genuinely thought that this was me dead. That I was gone.”

“I phoned my mum, I phoned my sister. I told her I loved her and that I would try and make it home. I said that if this was going to be the last conversation that we had then it was a really sad one to have but she’s been great and I love her.”

Mr McAnna met Mr Miller last year while both men were living in Leeds. He was the singer and guitarist in a Leeds band called These Fading Polaroids and Mr Miller was an engineering student. Both lived in the Hyde Park area.

Sean McAnna was a friend of David Miller.

Mr McAnna said he recently returned to Koh Tao – where he had previously spent 18 months living and working as a barman – and had planned but failed to meet Mr Miller on the night he and Ms Witheridge were murdered.

Locals appear reluctant to discuss the case, apparently fearing reprisals from mafia-style families who are said to control Koh Tao.

Mr McAnna said he believed it was people linked to one such group who threatened to kill him. At around 2.30am he was accosted by two Thai men at Koh Tao’s AC Bar, a beach front nightclub where Mr Miller and Ms Witheridge had been just before they were murdered.

“They just said to me: ‘It was you who killed them. You’ve got two people’s deaths on your hands. We know it was you. You’re going to hang yourself tonight and we are going to watch you hang. You will die tonight.’”

“So I just ran. I just left and ran,” he said.

Mr McAnna said he did not know if the men who threatened him were directly involved in his friend’s murder. However, he did believe they had key information about the murders and were attempting to make him a “scapegoat” for the killings.

“I think they needed a scapegoat. I think they might know who it was. They need a scapegoat and they don’t want it to be locals. They want it to be a westerner. So if I kill myself here, if I hang myself here, then it is easy to say: ‘See, it was him.’”

Mr McAnna posted information about the alleged threats on his Facebook page at around 4am on Monday and issued a desperate plea for help. “Thai mafia are trying to kill me. Please help me,” he wrote.

He said he also spoke to Foreign Office officials in London over the telephone. After being taken from the supermarket by Thai police, Mr McAnna said he spent the rest of the night hiding from the men he feared were going to kill him in the jungle.

“I was scared s*******. I was really scared. So I kept moving every thirty minutes in case anybody had seen me. I would move from one part, to the next part in case there was anyone close that had seen me and could send someone.”

Mr McAnna rejected the men’s claims that had been involved killing his friend and Ms Witheridge. “Of course I had nothing to do with it.” Prachum Ruangthong, the police chief responsible for Koh Tao, confirmed that Mr McAnna had been asked to provide DNA samples as part of investigations into the murders but was not considered a suspect.

The police chief denied receiving reports of death threats against Mr McAnna even though he met him on Monday morning and told the British traveller: “I am sensitive about your feelings. You don’t worry, ok?”

Two Thai men were questioned about the incident but they were not arrested. The police chief said he would guarantee the Briton’s security while he remained on Koh Tao.

After spending much of Monday in hiding, Mr McAnna travelled to the island’s port with a group of British reporters at around 2.30pm.

He left Koh Tao on a passenger ferry at 3.10 pm.

The 25-year-old Scot vowed never to return to an island that markets itself as a paradise for divers and partiers. “I’m done here,” he said, adding that he would only feel truly safe once he had flown out of Thailand. “Something could still happen to me in the next 24 hours.”

(Photo : telegraph.co.uk)

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/frightened-british-tourist-says-thai-mafia-may-killed-two-british-tourists-koh-tao/

-- Thai PBS 2014-09-23

So they say they got photo of them harrasing victim and David protecting her. Somehow i doubt it

[BMF1960]

What truly amazes me is that DNS testing cannot be done in Thailand. There are over 3,000 murders here every year, and still DNA testing has to be sent abroad!

[Fat Haggis]

As for the ones harping on about his pictures inside freezers, don't understand the irony of them being posted under "Chilling in Thailand" it's satire, a joke, a jape, humour, something a LOT of people posting here seem devoid of.

Is it any less stupid than "planking" ??

Oh yeah you old dinosaurs wouldn't know what that is.. go back to your stamp collecting and your perfect dull boring lifes and try to remember what it was like to have fun and a sense of humour all those years ago!!!

[eeworldwide]

This is just a shockingly outrageous story.

I can't believe that the police knew all this information and it was never made public till now.

Obviously the perpetrators are Thai's on the island. The police need to get their act together and sort this out.

I for one would be VERY fearful of ever visiting that island.

Way to go Thailand - another nail in the coffin of your tourist industry.

[Tazwa]

I can't stop dwelling on that picture of the guy in the black shirt and jeans mingling with police right next to the victims at the crime scene.

What's that saying about murderers returning to the scene of the crime?

Also, despite those trying to discredit Mr McKanna- he may very well be one of the heroes in this sad story.

Edited September 23, 2014 by Tazwa

[Fat Haggis]

There's also a contradiction in timings, one paper said he got the 0900 ferry and another the PBS article says 1510 ferry..

Lets face it journalists have been known to embelish the truth to sell stories for decades, but I'm a firm believer in "the benefit of the doubt" and until his version of events is completely dismissed, and proven to be a complete fabrication, then I'll give him the beneft of the doubt.

[almafudd]

I Wouldnt ever be going back to Koh Tao, not now its clear how much Thais there care about the truth vs their pockets. ill happily tell others to avoid KT at all costs, its crap for diving as they have killed off most of the sealife years ago and thats really the only reason to be on KT its not phi phi or samui.. go somewhere else safer not so corrupt and spend the cash there.

People can influence things by talking to others, once it becomes common enough knowledge thats that.

Its amazing how thick some posters can be.... especially the rose glass wearing ones, they really seem to think Thailand is run like a western democratic system... with western values, western thought process, western morals ...

Those who think sean is lying need to get out more here , its exactly what Thailand has been trying to point the finger at, a foreigner since it began and some think this is a made up story ?... oh boy do you not have a clue about Thailand.

"its clear how much Thais there care about the truth vs their pockets"

​ALL Thais and ALL OF Thailand have this attitude to some degree

But the reality is they are an uneducated race who are in a slow self-destruct mode (all be it that it will take many years for them to completely fall to bits).

There are many other CHEAPER, less CORRUPT, FRIENDLIER and more BEAUTIFUL countries in the world!

Such statements are totally uncalled for, and not needed.

Thanks for not posting any further discriminating comments in this debate!

Just stating the TRUTH!

[Strangebrew]

Have a feeling One Thai Mafia going down for disgracing the real mafia's name. Soon influx of Italians come to island.

[almafudd]

Please some facts, utter speculation.

The sun will set today... That is a FACT

As this is Thai Visa forum I am surprised that no one has jumped on you to provide 'Links' to this information. 555

OH

Sorry I forgot!

http://timeanddate.com/astronomy/thailand/bangkok

[Mammon]

It's comforting to know there are so many forensic psychologists out there willing to give their expert opinions on so many events. My heart felt sympathy to the poor friends and families that have to endure this farcical investigation and some of the drivel from the side lines.

[Iumentum]

I Wouldnt ever be going back to Koh Tao, not now its clear how much Thais there care about the truth vs their pockets. ill happily tell others to avoid KT at all costs, its crap for diving as they have killed off most of the sealife years ago and thats really the only reason to be on KT its not phi phi or samui.. go somewhere else safer not so corrupt and spend the cash there.

People can influence things by talking to others, once it becomes common enough knowledge thats that.

Its amazing how thick some posters can be.... especially the rose glass wearing ones, they really seem to think Thailand is run like a western democratic system... with western values, western thought process, western morals ...

Those who think sean is lying need to get out more here , its exactly what Thailand has been trying to point the finger at, a foreigner since it began and some think this is a made up story ?... oh boy do you not have a clue about Thailand.

"its clear how much Thais there care about the truth vs their pockets"

​ALL Thais and ALL OF Thailand have this attitude to some degree

But the reality is they are an uneducated race who are in a slow self-destruct mode (all be it that it will take many years for them to completely fall to bits).

There are many other CHEAPER, less CORRUPT, FRIENDLIER and more BEAUTIFUL countries in the world!

Such statements are totally uncalled for, and not needed.

Thanks for not posting any further discriminating comments in this debate!

Just stating the TRUTH!

Courtesy buddy!

Also, just the fact that you call thai for a race, doesn't make yourself appear highly educated either.

[yanyk]

They are angered that he talks openly about the crime?? he has no face to safe for SMILES sake.

[DekDaeng]

How many 7/11 workers could you borrow a phone from that have INTERNATIONAL call availability, to call your mum and sister?

BS - He's lying.

Hey know all - whodunnit?

[falangjim]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

This could all turn out to be a real acid test for the Junta. Catch the killer, punish all the back handed 'police' officers involved AND go after the family/families that threw their money about for the cover up to happen.

I know their are lots and lots of pressing issues here in Thailand, but that would be one hell of a statement of intent.

Why don't we hoist the Thais on our shoulders, too? While I like your idea, it's a dream. This is the same country that let the Red Bull heir, who was high on coke, run over and drag a police officer to death with his car. Yeah, I don't see any change coming soon, especially when it concerns foreigners.

Edited September 23, 2014 by falangjim

[Neeranam]

As for the ones harping on about his pictures inside freezers, don't understand the irony of them being posted under "Chilling in Thailand" it's satire, a joke, a jape, humour, something a LOT of people posting here seem devoid of.

Is it any less stupid than "planking" ??

Oh yeah you old dinosaurs wouldn't know what that is.. go back to your stamp collecting and your perfect dull boring lifes and try to remember what it was like to have fun and a sense of humour all those years ago!!!

When sitting in the middle of Nakhon Nowhere, with a pension cheque the highlight of the week, it's normal to be jealous of youngsters living the dream when you never started living it until you were 60.

[Minnehaha]

There's also a contradiction in timings, one paper said he got the 0900 ferry and another the PBS article says 1510 ferry..

Lets face it journalists have been known to embelish the truth to sell stories for decades, but I'm a firm believer in "the benefit of the doubt" and until his version of events is completely dismissed, and proven to be a complete fabrication, then I'll give him the beneft of the doubt.

Another discrepancy was the front page of the Bangkok Post printed paper this morning says French Tourist Says He Knows Identity of Murders. The online edition now says he is Scottish. But it is interesting to walk past the hundreds of papers out on news stands with such a huge error. The editor should be fired.

[Just1Voice]

The only way this case is going to be resolved correctly is if there is enough International pressure placed on it to make it otherwise unbearable for the Thai NOT to solve it. Otherwise it will go the way so many other "foreigner" murders have gone - under the carpet and forgotten about in time.

[ScotBkk]

How many 7/11 workers could you borrow a phone from that have INTERNATIONAL call availability, to call your mum and sister?

BS - He's lying.

Great deduction Watson.

The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.... ever heard of Viber - Skype - Line - Facebook and so on ??????

[Bluespunk]

For those vouching for this guys' character and saying he could never do such a thing. One thing I have learned through my years in life is that you never really know somebody and what they are capable of. Something you usually hear after someone is found guilty of something heinous is the shock and disbelief of people that knew him. They never could have imagined them doing such a thing. And that's with people very close to the guilty party. I doubt any of you vouching for him are much more than casual acquaintances, and even if you are more than that, you never know what someone is capable of, especially if drunk or under the influence. So think twice before you vouch for someone in the future please. I'm not saying he's guilty or not, but he certainly could be, regardless of how good a guy you claim he is.

DNA says he's not guilty.

[mataleo]

Update from twitter

Police seem to be a little excited and claim to have a new "main suspect".

[les Dennis]

Arrest the bar owner on the misdemeanor of employing a westerner without a work permit. Get him out of his comfort zone and away from his associates and avisors to a BKK police station, and see what happens

[Rimmer]

A highly speculative and reported post, also a reply to it has been removed

[Maejo Man]

Update from twitter

Police seem to be a little excited and claim to have a new "main suspect".

Who is it this time? The Pope?

[mataleo]

As for the ones harping on about his pictures inside freezers, don't understand the irony of them being posted under "Chilling in Thailand" it's satire, a joke, a jape, humour, something a LOT of people posting here seem devoid of.

Is it any less stupid than "planking" ??

Oh yeah you old dinosaurs wouldn't know what that is.. go back to your stamp collecting and your perfect dull boring lifes and try to remember what it was like to have fun and a sense of humour all those years ago!!!

When sitting in the middle of Nakhon Nowhere, with a pension cheque the highlight of the week, it's normal to be jealous of youngsters living the dream when you never started living it until you were 60.

U old boys need to remember this people are young and having fun and making stupid pranks and jokes. Its pretty normal. .

[mataleo]

Update from twitter

Police seem to be a little excited and claim to have a new "main suspect".

Who is it this time? The Pope?

I go with french man....

[KTVIEW]

Wow, there are a lot of cynics on this thread. To think that the people who live on Koh Tao want anything less than justice for the killers of these two people is mind-blowing. Keep in mind, we LIVE here and can't stand the thought that there are people living amongst who are capable of such an atrocity. We want these people caught for the families of the victims, for our own safety, and to a much lesser degree because we have built lives and businesses here and we will undoubtedly suffer from the negative attention.
All of the speculation and the actual reporting of this story in the media has been terribly insensitive and counter-productive. The owner of the resort was one of the first on the scene because he owns a business adjacent to it. Reports that he hasn't submitted a DNA test are false. He was one of the first to be tested.
Talk of a mafia-run island is also incorrect. Some of our local business people have more influence than others because they have more land, money, family interests, etc. These are the people that get elected into government on Koh Tao as well as in many other places in the world. We don't have any history of tourist murders on the island. Drugs are not as prevalent here as they are in many other places in Thailand, and all of the Full Moon party references apply to Koh Phangan, not Koh Tao.

Sean McAnna has not been here working as a barman for 18 months here. In fact, he only recently arrived. He spent some time here in the past and wasn't able to maintain employment anywhere for long on the island. He has been all over the place with his views of what happened. His first post since the tragedy occurred (since removed) was of how sad he was and that he was supposed to meet David Miller on the night of the murders, but he fell asleep in his bungalow. Now he somehow seems to have witnessed the killings and can ID the killers. And if he did witness the murders, why is he only just now speaking up? We have had literally hundreds of mainland police combing this island for a week. If he felt uncomfortable speaking about it because he feared for what would happen to him if he did, why not leave the island and contact the British Embassy who could then keep him safe while he spoke with police in Bangkok or even at home in the UK? Instead, he drunkenly walked into AC Bar at night, alone and made accusations against the owner. And why would he post such garbage on Facebook instead of speaking to the authorities? These are just a few of the reasons that we question his mental state. He seems to be quite illogical in his actions and more than a little bit disturbed. Hopefully, he gets the help he needs and the authorities will get back to searching for the killers...

[Fred Flinstone]

So he claims he revisited the island the very day they met their fate?

Quote

""Mr McAnna said he recently returned to Koh Tao – where he had previously spent 18 months living and working as a barman – and had planned but failed to meet Mr Miller on the night he and Ms Witheridge were murdered.

Edited September 23, 2014 by Fred Flinstone

[chiang mai]

Why destroy a good conspiracy theory and detective novel with fact, the unemployed masses will have nothing else to do with their time!

[bkkgooner]

So a guy who looks like the bloke caught on CCTV was questioned by police and when he refused to give a DNA sample that didn't raise their suspicions?

This story is getting really confusing