Police still fail to pinpoint suspects

[jimbeam1]

MURDERS

Koh Tao: police fail another day

The Nation

Latest DNA test results, mostly on migrants, come back negative; police waiting for news on 3 'new' suspects tested

KOH TAO: -- POLICE hunting the killers of two British tourists on Koh Tao failed again yesterday to link suspects to the crimes, as DNA tests on 30 out of 64 samples collected mostly from migrants on the island did not match any found on the victims' bodies.

Yesterday was the eighth day since the murders but police have yet to reveal solid clues or the likely motive. The officials were waiting for results of DNA tests of three 'new' suspects: two Thais and a migrant who looks like a man seen on a close-circuit television camera.

However they have confirmed that two weapons we used to kill the pair - which led them to believe they are hunting at least two people.

The body of Hannah Witheridge, the young female backpacker slain on the island, meanwhile, left Bangkok for her home country. Her family said in a statement: "We can confirm that we have now returned to the UK with our beautiful Hannah. As a family we feel enormous relief to have Hannah back at home where she belongs."

Her body was found next to David Miller, also 24, on the beach of the resort island on Monday morning. Both were bludgeoned to death.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Somyot Pumpanmuang said yesterday that officers would have to widen the search to be beyond the island.

"We have now confirmed that the killing weapon is not only a hoe found stained with blood, but also a wooden club. This made us believe that there are at least two attackers," he said.

Somyot said police had a theory that the killers may come and left the island on the same night. "Koh Tao is an area where people, Thais, migrant workers as well as foreign tourists come and go all the time," he said.

Police have held one man, however, identified as Lerpong Suksomboon, an attendant on a speedboat for tourists between Koh Samui and Koh Tao. He was detained after residents alerted police that he was hiding in a cave on Koh Samui - and came out from time to time and asked for food.

Under influence of drugs

Police on Sunday night questioned Lerpong but he appeared to be under the influence of drugs. He reportedly kept saying he did not beat to death the tourists. Police collected samples of his hair and fingernails for DNA tests at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Police General Hospital.

Police yesterday took two of his friends into custody; one was also high on drugs and the other, identified as Jom, is the driver of a long-tail boat. Police learnt that they had been on Koh Tao on the day of the murder.

Some fishermen fishing off Kanom district in Nakhon Si Thammarat province alerted police that they found a Thai man on a speedboat named "Little Duck" speeding south from Koh Pha Ngan. The man stopped by and asked for directions to Naiprao Island in the district. But he changed direction to Pakpanang district in the same province after his boat encountered a marine police boat on Naiprao beach.

Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Kittipong Kaosam-ang, a Surat Thani police commander, asked the media not to report in-depth investigation results, saying it may give some clues to the culprits. But he revealed that Thais may have been involved in the murders and had tried to destroy evidence linking them to the attacks. Some people on Koh Tao had given false information to police in a bid to divert attention.

Somyot told reporters that Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha and his deputy Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, telephoned him every day to know the latest developments in the case.

Police have worked closely with officials from the British Embassy and they are still confident that they will eventually arrest the culprits. It was not necessary to send investigators to Thailand to help, they said.

Government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarp said the PM ordered police to quickly bring the culprits to justice. Officials at the island, plus business owners and have been told to help provide advice on safety issues to tourists.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Koh-Tao-police-fail-another-day-30243890.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-23

If the dear PM really wants to keep up with events, he should register with Thaivisa.

jb1

[heyexile]

This marks the end of Thailands tourist industry,as they (the Thais ) know it today.And I am afraid its self inflicted. ,

Really? I don't think the tourists from Russia, China, Taiwan, Korea etc, who make up the vast majority of tourists to Thailand, will be particularly affected. Thailand's tourist industry has survived a tsunami, SARS, political riots, airport blockades, military coups - I think it will survive this horrible murder.

Not sure of your stats, have not seen a breakdown by country. We do know that tourism accounts for 10% of Thailand`s GDP. Say "western" tourism is around 5% appx? Thailand could lose that bc increased govt travel advisories, public boycotts, social media campaigns etc. It happened to Burma.

The AH defamation case still ongoing, further criminal charges officially laid by the court post coup = campaigns already started to boycott Thai goods.

Warnings from the top that attractive young visitors are not safe.,(ie not welcome?). Xenophobes going for trad values and the purging of corrupting western influences. Honest and hard working RTP not looking too good but they are a large paramilitary force and the regime needs their support. A regime on a nationalistic mission will sacrifice tourism income for the sake of the mission. Maybe the many whose livelihoods are damaged will share the enthusiasm for national sacrifices.

[biplanebluey]

Hang your tail between your legs and ask the FBI and British equivalent to step in before all evidence is lost.

Already a bit too late for that methinks------- anyway they may come up with evidence of a cover-up and that would never do

[heyexile]

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

MURDERS
Koh Tao: police fail another day
The Nation



Latest DNA test results, mostly on migrants, come back negative; police waiting for news on 3 'new' suspects tested

KOH TAO: -- POLICE hunting the killers of two British tourists on Koh Tao failed again yesterday to link suspects to the crimes, as DNA tests on 30 out of 64 samples collected mostly from migrants on the island did not match any found on the victims' bodies.

Yesterday was the eighth day since the murders but police have yet to reveal solid clues or the likely motive. The officials were waiting for results of DNA tests of three 'new' suspects: two Thais and a migrant who looks like a man seen on a close-circuit television camera.

However they have confirmed that two weapons we used to kill the pair - which led them to believe they are hunting at least two people.

The body of Hannah Witheridge, the young female backpacker slain on the island, meanwhile, left Bangkok for her home country. Her family said in a statement: "We can confirm that we have now returned to the UK with our beautiful Hannah. As a family we feel enormous relief to have Hannah back at home where she belongs."

Her body was found next to David Miller, also 24, on the beach of the resort island on Monday morning. Both were bludgeoned to death.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Somyot Pumpanmuang said yesterday that officers would have to widen the search to be beyond the island.

"We have now confirmed that the killing weapon is not only a hoe found stained with blood, but also a wooden club. This made us believe that there are at least two attackers," he said.

Somyot said police had a theory that the killers may come and left the island on the same night. "Koh Tao is an area where people, Thais, migrant workers as well as foreign tourists come and go all the time," he said.

Police have held one man, however, identified as Lerpong Suksomboon, an attendant on a speedboat for tourists between Koh Samui and Koh Tao. He was detained after residents alerted police that he was hiding in a cave on Koh Samui - and came out from time to time and asked for food.



Under influence of drugs

Police on Sunday night questioned Lerpong but he appeared to be under the influence of drugs. He reportedly kept saying he did not beat to death the tourists. Police collected samples of his hair and fingernails for DNA tests at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Police General Hospital.

Police yesterday took two of his friends into custody; one was also high on drugs and the other, identified as Jom, is the driver of a long-tail boat. Police learnt that they had been on Koh Tao on the day of the murder.

Some fishermen fishing off Kanom district in Nakhon Si Thammarat province alerted police that they found a Thai man on a speedboat named "Little Duck" speeding south from Koh Pha Ngan. The man stopped by and asked for directions to Naiprao Island in the district. But he changed direction to Pakpanang district in the same province after his boat encountered a marine police boat on Naiprao beach.

Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Kittipong Kaosam-ang, a Surat Thani police commander, asked the media not to report in-depth investigation results, saying it may give some clues to the culprits. But he revealed that Thais may have been involved in the murders and had tried to destroy evidence linking them to the attacks. Some people on Koh Tao had given false information to police in a bid to divert attention.

Somyot told reporters that Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha and his deputy Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, telephoned him every day to know the latest developments in the case.

Police have worked closely with officials from the British Embassy and they are still confident that they will eventually arrest the culprits. It was not necessary to send investigators to Thailand to help, they said.

Government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarp said the PM ordered police to quickly bring the culprits to justice. Officials at the island, plus business owners and have been told to help provide advice on safety issues to tourists.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Koh-Tao-police-fail-another-day-30243890.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-23

If the dear PM really wants to keep up with events, he should register with Thaivisa.
jb1

No need. His security forces and attitude adjusters already have.

[weka]

Only word I can think of is INCOMPETENCE.

I can add another: INTENTIONAL

yep

Details will be being discussed right now about the length and conditions of custodial sentence if one of the protected needs to "take one for the team"

There is not a crime in Thailand that happens without people (police ) knowing about it - it's all about what they do with that information that matters most.

Follow the (convicted) murderer through the prison system and watch for outcry in 18 months

[kieran2698]

This marks the end of Thailands tourist industry,as they (the Thais ) know it today.And I am afraid its self inflicted. ,

Really? I don't think the tourists from Russia, China, Taiwan, Korea etc, who make up the vast majority of tourists to Thailand, will be particularly affected. Thailand's tourist industry has survived a tsunami, SARS, political riots, airport blockades, military coups - I think it will survive this horrible murder.

Not sure of your stats, have not seen a breakdown by country. We do know that tourism accounts for 10% of Thailand`s GDP. Say "western" tourism is around 5% appx? Thailand could lose that bc increased govt travel advisories, public boycotts, social media campaigns etc. It happened to Burma.

The AH defamation case still ongoing, further criminal charges officially laid by the court post coup = campaigns already started to boycott Thai goods.

Warnings from the top that attractive young visitors are not safe.,(ie not welcome?). Xenophobes going for trad values and the purging of corrupting western influences. Honest and hard working RTP not looking too good but they are a large paramilitary force and the regime needs their support. A regime on a nationalistic mission will sacrifice tourism income for the sake of the mission. Maybe the many whose livelihoods are damaged will share the enthusiasm for national sacrifices.

http://www.thaiwebsites.com/tourists-nationalities-Thailand.asp

Tourism in Myanmar was boycotted at the request of Aung San Suu Kyi, it would be an equivalent if Yingluk called for a boycott.

[bkkgooner]

after reading the bangkok post article it seems that the two that were accused by the Uk man are definitely suspects but for some reason the thai police refuse to make them give dna. One is a dead match for the "running man", he was also pictured standing around with police at the murder scene while the night before he and the other person accused were seen trying to molest the female and being chased off by the male that were them murdered the following night. They have also threatened another persons life yet are still walking free, only in Thailand. The police state that 2 people were involved, are given testimony that these two were seen accosting the murdered couple, they deny they had anything to do with it and refused to give dna samples and the police simply let them walk. This smacks of police corruption if they are not made to give dna, seems that they may be too important to be considered or even charged but then they are thais and not foreigners, they only make foreigners give dna.

All the evidence points to these two men being the killers I really hope the police aren't going to try and pin it on a local crazy.

I do not understand why they would not force the gentleman to give DNA when he perfectly matches the description of the man on the CCTV images.

[mango66]

if you look for gangsters in thailand,

than catch first the RTP !

Check the wellness of this main Captain RTP in Surat Thani !

or of the local one,

than you know where the provision of the drug mafia goes,

If they will find , catch the culptries - he be propably killed by mafia earlieer or late,

if he will be not sucessfull, if will get propably an now chair deep in the south,

so whats best for him,

play on time until investigation will be stopped;

mafia will be back, his provision will be back, maybee even increased !!

But we have hope this time, Gen. Prayuth will not stop the investigation,

he will change this guys and finally even bring in foreign investigaters

if the local fail;

[SPB65]

I'm so bored of this now. It seems pretty clear that everyone there knows who it is but they'll be no justice because too much is at stake. TIT.

Time to leave this grubby country to it and live somewhere more civilized. It was fun for a while but even my Thai missus is sick of her own country and can't wait to get out.

Tara !

[exalll]

MURDERS

Koh Tao: police fail another day

The Nation

Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Kittipong Kaosam-ang, a Surat Thani police commander, asked the media not to report in-depth investigation results, saying it may give some clues to the culprits. But he revealed that Thais may have been involved in the murders and had tried to destroy evidence linking them to the attacks. Some people on Koh Tao had given false information to police in a bid to divert attention.

-- The Nation 2014-09-23

Amazing! The police asking the media not to report in-depth investigation results. Where does the media get in-depth investigation results?

Seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding by the police of what the media does! "We are going to give you all the information we have, but please don't report it"!!!

[Number 3]

after reading the bangkok post article it seems that the two that were accused by the Uk man are definitely suspects but for some reason the thai police refuse to make them give dna. One is a dead match for the "running man", he was also pictured standing around with police at the murder scene while the night before he and the other person accused were seen trying to molest the female and being chased off by the male that were them murdered the following night. They have also threatened another persons life yet are still walking free, only in Thailand. The police state that 2 people were involved, are given testimony that these two were seen accosting the murdered couple, they deny they had anything to do with it and refused to give dna samples and the police simply let them walk. This smacks of police corruption if they are not made to give dna, seems that they may be too important to be considered or even charged but then they are thais and not foreigners, they only make foreigners give dna.

All the evidence points to these two men being the killers I really hope the police aren't going to try and pin it on a local crazy.

I do not understand why they would not force the gentleman to give DNA when he perfectly matches the description of the man on the CCTV images.

That they even have a choice to refuse and police abide by their choice is amusing . They are not the only two Thais on the island refusing.

The immigrant workers I assume were also given this choice ? All appearances were that they were simply marched out made to have footprints measured in the sand hold up name signs as though they were police mugshots and made to give dna samples as their homes were rummaged through. Human rights abuses at this point in time ?

[pb1936]

A powerful, impartial, and competent body must take-over the investigation immediately. All local police should be impounded and subjected to intense interrogation as it appears that they are a hindrance to the progress in this appalling case.

[mango66]

Unfortunately for the local police and for the local mafia, DNA samples obtained from the victims have spoiled their cover-up scenario. Scapegoats will prove to be innocent, and the perps will be found eventually as long as at least one of their relatives remain on the island. With more than one perp (say four) eventually a family member's DNA will show the connection to the killers. I'm assuming that the elite BKK forensic police have already made this connection (or are closing in) , but need to keep it quiet from anyone outside their group until they can trace and arrest at least one of the gang.

hope hope and cross my fingers with you !!

[Briggsy]

The police know who did it and have been paid off not to arrest the real culprits. All these statements day after day are just fluff. It was obvious from the outset the police had struck a deal not to arrest the real killers. There will be plenty more red herrings thrown out by the police.

[mango66]

They should DNA all the local people

Not sure if they can see if DNA is link to a family member as don't know too much about it

For example if a brother of the suspect was tested could it show a DNA match positive that this person is related

I don't know ?

yes they show the connection to family - relatives !!

Therefore they do the tests on the foreigner and Burma people only,

to be save, NOT to catch their family memebers as murders !!

[laobali]

A powerful, impartial, and competent body must take-over the investigation immediately. All local police should be impounded and subjected to intense interrogation as it appears that they are a hindrance to the progress in this appalling case.

"A powerful, impartial, and competent body". In Thailand? Now there's an oxymoron if ever I saw one.

But I agree, and in addition I suggest the TAT makes a 'grand gesture' by not only acknowledging that Koh Tao is in temporary lockdown (should be made in a statement from the PM) until the investigation is complete and the alleged killers incarcerated, but also offer alternative accommodation on other islands to those with bookings, and insist on refunds for any paid for in advance. Prohibit ALL new tourist arrivals.

Innocent islanders will suffer too, but it may encourage anyone with information to come forward and get this situation resolved. The rest of the world (including potential tourists to Thai islands) IS watching.

[BigC]

I reckon that with the martial law I doubt the local people are as protected

Also the more this stays in the press the more less likely the story shall die with the case

[tomyumchai]

All over the Australian media this morning that an English guy has fled the island after being threatened by two well connected thais on the island. apparently they were going to make the guy look like a scapegoat for the deaths, hang him and make it look like suicide.

Apparently the BIB spoke to them and let them go, no DNA samples taken. Thailand is looking worse and worse everyday as the bumbling continues.

so this island is still open to tourists then? with these 2 'connected thais' working there?

......tao is 1 place i missed when touring down that way...........i wont ever be setting foot down there now, i think a lot of others should take note and avoid it as well.

[green job]

As i have said before, This marks the end of the tourist gravy train for Thailand. I have just had a call from friends that were intending a visit with their family

They have 2 young daughters, They were going to Koh samet but have changed their minds, This is just one,I am sure there will be more,thinking on the same lines.

and to tell the truth,I dont blame them.

This is a SAD week for Thailand

[BigC]

All over the Australian media this morning that an English guy has fled the island after being threatened by two well connected thais on the island. apparently they were going to make the guy look like a scapegoat for the deaths, hang him and make it look like suicide.

Apparently the BIB spoke to them and let them go, no DNA samples taken. Thailand is looking worse and worse everyday as the bumbling continues.

so this island is still open to tourists then? with these 2 'connected thais' working there?

......tao is 1 place i missed when touring down that way...........i wont ever be setting foot down there now, i think a lot of others should take note and avoid it as well.

Koh Tao is a beautiful island

Don't be put off because of this. This could happen anywhere anytime any place

If we all avoided places where there had been murders then well no one would be flying for 1

No one would go anywhere

[green job]

All over the Australian media this morning that an English guy has fled the island after being threatened by two well connected thais on the island. apparently they were going to make the guy look like a scapegoat for the deaths, hang him and make it look like suicide.

Apparently the BIB spoke to them and let them go, no DNA samples taken. Thailand is looking worse and worse everyday as the bumbling continues.

so this island is still open to tourists then? with these 2 'connected thais' working there?

......tao is 1 place i missed when touring down that way...........i wont ever be setting foot down there now, i think a lot of others should take note and avoid it as well.

Koh Tao is a beautiful island

Don't be put off because of this. This could happen anywhere anytime any place

If we all avoided places where there had been murders then well no one would be flying for 1

No one would go anywhere

Sure its a beautiful place,

it is also the full moon island, Crazy Thailand ruin wonderful places Islands just for the drug money A disgrace,that will effect the rest of

Thailand

Let us hope that this Murder of two young people will be remembered,And Thailand now gets its finger out.

[metisdead]

Posts using all caps have been removed.

[BigC]

All over the Australian media this morning that an English guy has fled the island after being threatened by two well connected thais on the island. apparently they were going to make the guy look like a scapegoat for the deaths, hang him and make it look like suicide.

Apparently the BIB spoke to them and let them go, no DNA samples taken. Thailand is looking worse and worse everyday as the bumbling continues.

so this island is still open to tourists then? with these 2 'connected thais' working there?

......tao is 1 place i missed when touring down that way...........i wont ever be setting foot down there now, i think a lot of others should take note and avoid it as well.

Koh Tao is a beautiful island

Don't be put off because of this. This could happen anywhere anytime any place

If we all avoided places where there had been murders then well no one would be flying for 1

No one would go anywhere

Sure its a beautiful place,

it is also the full moon island, Crazy Thailand ruin wonderful places Islands just for the drug money A disgrace,that will effect the rest of

Thailand

Let us hope that this Murder of two young people will be remembered,And Thailand now gets its finger out.

Partially agree drugs have messed up the criminal world and normal society all over the world