Man says police beat him after he declines to be witness in Koh Tao murder cases
by taweporn

KOH TAO: -- Thai man said he was beaten up by police after he turned down the police’ offer to give him reward money if he agreed to be a witness in the murder case of of the two British tourists in Thailand’s touristic island of Koh Tao, southern Surat Thani province, according to ASTV-Manager online.

The report says Pornprasit Sukdam, 37, on Tuesday complained with Kobchai Saowalak, kamnan of Koh Tao sub-district, and asked for protection.

Pornprasit said the police detained him on Monday 1.30pm. During the interrogation, the police investigators persuaded him to agree to pretend to have knowledge of the incident, Pornprasit said. The police allegedly offered him 700,000 baht (about 21,600 USD) reward and guaranteed that he has the witness status. However, since he was not involved with the crime and did not hold knowledge related to it, Pornprasit declined the police’s offer.

That made the police angry, he said. The police allegedly beat him up before released him on Monday 6.30pm.

He decided to tell this story to others since the police planned to interrogate him again on Tuesday and he feared to be beaten up again.

He added that he does not plan to pursue case against the police, but wants to assert his innocence. He is willing to cooperate with the police, but not by force.

Meanwhile, kamnan of Koh Tao sub-district urged the police not to use violence with the suspects and not to arrest a scapegoat.

Pornprasit is a taxi driver on Koh Tao and member of the Sun Service Football team. There was a football match held on the day of the murders. The team members are now the focus of the police investigators.

The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found with severe head wounds on September 15.

Source: http://prachatai.org/english/node/4373

--Prachathai English: 2014-09-30

If true, this proves the investigation is totally off the rails.

The story does not actually say he was not a witness to something.

What does it mean he "is willing to cooperate with the police but not by force"?

this whole sage seems to get dirtier and more bizarre by the hour.

this whole sage seems to get dirtier and more bizarre by the hour.

I couldn't oregano any more than that!

He went to the kanman for protection???? Is this t he same on who offered 1Mio Baht as a reward for getting his family off?

You see, they don't even give a sh.it about their own as long as they can use them to frame some poor, unsuspecting foreigner. Come on, PM, enough is enough, remove the 'police' from this island and bring in disciplined soldiers!!!

This actually might be a development. If the PM or someone can step in, find out who backed the 700,000 baht witness fee. Following the money might lead to the perps.

Stick a fork in it, the whole blackened-burned pie is "DONE"

Wow, the Thai POLICE would do such a thing?

There was the 'witness' who, a few days ago, purportedly was a witness who allegedly claimed a farang did it. the story was vague and not believable when it broke, then belatedly detracted in the mushy manner so becoming of Thai cops. We won't be hearing anything from that so-called witness again because, like the guy in this thread, they're both bogus. The headman's desperation is showing. I bet he's sorely angry at us pesky farang who keep pissing on his parade. These things (paid fake witnesses) would be so much easier to insert in to the mix if pesky farang weren't bolloxing things up with their social networks and tweets and facebook posts.

The plot thickens every day ......

Agatha Christie would be jealous of such a story.

The poor families of the victims having to put up with this garbage day after day.

this whole sage seems to get dirtier and more bizarre by the hour.

I couldn't oregano any more than that!

I'm sorry, I didn't take the thyme to check my spelling, I was talking to Rosemary on the phone.

He went to the kanman for protection???? Is this t he same on who offered 1Mio Baht as a reward for getting his family off?

and police offered only 700.000

The poor families of the victims having to put up with this garbage day after day.

I highly doubt the families wait with baited breath for every news article in the manner of many TV posters who have nothing personally invested except a casual concern and alot of boredom.

The plot thickens every day ...... Agatha Christie would be jealous of such a story.

If Ms Christie had written such a tale, it would be scoffed for being too unrealistic.

The plot thickens every day ......

Agatha Christie would be jealous of such a story.

Agatha Christie would have solved this by now, but not this incompetent police force.

It's getting dirtier by the day, now they are offering bribes to get out of the shit they have put themselves in, framing anybody and anything within their grasp.

Really sad and sickening.

Bravo Khun Pornprasit!! You are a very brave man to speak the truth in this kingdom of lies!!

Hmmm, maybe, just maybe the police is getting close to something?
Time to discredit them? Not that there would be much credit to give
them in the first place but ....

Now calling in the army as some suggest, are people really so naive
to think some islanders have no connections to top brass?

The poor families of the victims having to put up with this garbage day after day.

I highly doubt the families wait with baited breath for every news article in the manner of many TV posters who have nothing personally invested except a casual concern and alot of boredom.

Coming from one of the busiest posters on this topic!!

Only one reason they would pay someone to make up a story to frame someone. If this is not proof that there is a coverup then I am a monkey's uncle.

Any other country would have their equivalent of the FBI in to investigate this police force and take over the case.

As one person suggested, follow the money and you will find the murders.

This is an article about one unsubstantiated claim from a Thai taxi driver. I don't know about you but I don't have much trust in Thai taxi drivers.

And isn't the kanman the guy so many on here think is complicit with some conspiracy?

Why believe anything you are reading? You discard anything that does not fit your desired outcome and accept as gospel any rumor that does.

So why did the police decide to make him that offer out of all the possible candidates? Did he actually witness something? It sounds like he was not only asked to be a witness but an actual participant--why else would they need to offer him immunity from prosecution?

Bravo Khun Pornprasit!! You are a very brave man to speak the truth in this kingdom of lies!!

So, in this "Kingdom of Lies" you honestly believe anyone is telling the truth?

Realy wonder now, who promised to pay him to say what?

I will say a prayer for this man's safety.

What a complete and utter farce

police mafia !!!!!

He went to the kanman for protection???? Is this t he same on who offered 1Mio Baht as a reward for getting his family off?

and police offered only 700.000

He (the village headman) offered 1 million baht if someone can prove him or anyone is his family to be guilty, NOT innocent. People seem to have this all backwards.

So, if someone can prove that his son is guilty, in this case, he will pay 1 million baht. If someone proves his son is innocent, no money will change hands.

Nevertheless, offering the police 1 million baht to prove one is guilty seems very "thai", overconfident, and suspicious.....