Koh Tao: All three migrant workers confess to rape and murder of British tourists

[webfact]

All three migrant workers confess to rape and murder of British tourists



KOH TAO: -- The police have arrested three Myanmar migrant workers after 18 days have passed since the murder of two British tourists on Koh Tao Island on September 15.

Initially one suspect confessed but two others denied.

But after a grueling daylong interrogation after the first suspect who confessed implicated his colleagues.

The two later admitted to the crimes.

Originally, two of the three suspects, all Arakanese from Arakan state in Myanmar, were apprehended by police early in the morning hours.

These two men were currently being employed as waiters in a restaurant on the island.

The arrest came after police obtained an image captured by a closed-circuit TV camera in 7-Eleven convenient store showing the three men entering a convenient store and purchasing cigarettes and alcohol and then proceeding to a long on the beach close to the actual crime scene.

The LM cigarettes which one of the suspects purchased were the same as the same brand of cigarette butts the forensic police collected from the scene.

The DNA test of the cigarette butts matched those found in the body of Ms Hanna Witheridge, 23.

On being arrested these two men admitted to sitting on said log and consuming alcohol and playing a guitar but denied having any involvement in the murders.

Police officers then led the two to a safe-house where they were intensively interrogated.

While this was going on another team of police officers arrested the third man at a Surat Thani municipal pier after it was discovered that he had boarded a boat and left Koh Tao Island late last night.

He was escorted to 8th Region Police headquarters for questioning.

Comparing his features to images captured on CCTV, police were able to ascertain that he was one of the three men in the footage.

He had recently dyed his hair black when originally his hair was dyed blond.

Some blond strands of human hair were found at the scene and were kept as evidence. Police are awaiting DNA test results to confirm their case.

Later in the day, Pol. Lt. Gen. Jakthip Chaichinda, the acting Royal Thai Police deputy commissioner, revealed that the three men had admitted to having committed the crime.

Meanwhile the acting assistant commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Pol. Lt. Gen. Panya Mamen, identified the three Myanmar workers to the media Win, Mao and Sor and it was Win who first admitted to the crime.

On the night of the incident, Win revealed that he and his two accomplices were drinking, singing and playing the guitar approximately 65 meters from the murder scene.

They sang songs in the Yakai (Arakanese) dialect which tallies with eyewitness accounts that on the night of the murder, some people had seen Burmese men playing the guitar and singing at that spot.

All eyewitnesses stated that the songs were neither in Thai nor Burmese language but no one could make out the dialect.

At this point, the police managed to have an Arakanese waiter who worked at a Bungalow nearby the scene as witness. He told the police that the group of men singing and playing guitar are Arakanese from Arakan state in Myanmar. The police then started to clandestinely follow the group’s movement.

Win went on to say that later on they had seen the two British tourists walking towards a cluster of rocky reefs and were romantically embracing and cuddling each other.

Win stated that he was curious and grabbed a garden hoe and went to sneak a peek of the couple making out.

He admitted to being sexually aroused and along with his two accomplices had used the hoe to beat the male tourist and then dumping his body in the sea. They then proceeded to rape the woman and finally killing her by hitting her with the same garden hoe.

They then disposed of the murder weapon which was later found by police.

Police have collected the DNA samples of all three men the test results are expected to be revealed tomorrow.

Pol. Gen. Somyos Phumphanmuang, the commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, flew to Koh Tao later in the day to personally question the men and following that, formal charges will be filed against them.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Mark Kent, the British ambassador to Thailand, paid a formal visit to Pol. Gen. Somyos Phumphanmuang at the Royal Thai Police headquarters to personally congratulate him on being promoted to the post of commissioner of the Royal Thai Police.

While there, he was given updates in the developments of the murder case and expressed his satisfaction on how the case was being handled and his government would not interfere in any way with the investigation. Mr. Kent went on to praise the Royal Thai Police in solving the case and have shown exemplary professionalism as a crime fighting unit.

The British Ambassador later said “Thailand and the UK have always mutually helped each other in the past and the cooperation has always benefitted both countries. This new development reaffirms our confidence in both our countries abilities.”

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/three-migrant-workers-confess-rape-murder-british-tourists/


-- Thai PBS 2014-10-03

[lostinisaan]

Police have collected the DNA samples of all three men the test results are expected to be revealed tomorrow.

Or within the next three days.............

[Credo]

If these 3 were working on the Island, then their DNA should have been some of the first collected and eliminated. Are they being retested? If so, why?

Is this like a school test, we will keeping testing you until you pass?

[cgphuket]

I wonder if the island big shot got a discount for 3 confessions, instead of paying for just one?

[KissMyAxe]

From the very beginning this is exactly what I thought would have happened and the suspects being migrant workers... it was only after with the incompetence of the police and the smell of the usual corruption that I felt myself hoping that it was well connected Thai / Thais that did it and sooooo wanted them to be caught! .. I feel there is a good chance they might have the correct suspects...

Edited October 2, 2014 by KissMyAxe

[CelticBhoy]

Police officers then led the two to a safe-house where they were intensively interrogated.

This is the scary bit . . . . . probably admit to anything while there.

[Scott]

Some post have been removed,including those which are only quotes or with the comment inside the quote. Please make sure that your comment does not appear in a quote from another member.

[EricBerg]

"Police officers then led the two to a safe-house where they were intensively interrogated."

I can imagine what that means. Beaten up intensively?

"Some blond strands of human hair were found at the scene and were kept as evidence."

Found or planted?

Only a DNA match by the brit police I will believe. Match the DNA of the semen with that of the suspects. There have been too many mess-ups to base it on a confession only.

[maamoot]

I hope the are not patsies.

[englishoak]

next media version please

[Jiu-Jitsu]

"Win stated that he was curious and grabbed a garden hoe and went to sneak a peek of the couple making out."

Curious, so grabbed a garden hoe??

[The stuttering parrot]

If this is all true then it's great news for the families to these scumbags finally arrested and give at least some closure for them.

There's a lot of unsolved all around the world that will never be solved and the Thai police were under the pump from day one with such a high profile case.

Let's hope that all the authorities involved in this case will learn from this including procedures and press statements in future cases.

18 days is excellent work considering the amount of suspects they had to deal with.

Well done despite the press gaffs along the way!

[dcutman]

Mr. Kent went on to praise the Royal Thai Police in solving the case and have shown exemplary professionalism as a crime fighting unit.

People from the UK must be so proud of their ambassador to Thailand.

Edited October 3, 2014 by dcutman

[Rumblecat]

I guess the thing is that if this was the first proper report about arrests then I'd probably believe it. But when it comes after the numerous misleading statements about prime suspects and nationalities that have preceded it... it does sort of feel like a scramble for an end point. And it might be that the police have genuinely done a fantastic job, but it's hard to join in with Mr. Kent's enthusiastic praise after such a horrendous few weeks where seemingly random statements were thrown out to the press in the hope one would stick.

I'd hope he maybe have a bit of backbone to explain why some of the comments from authorities were genuinely insulting and disrespectful of the dead, but I guess not. To be fair some people struggle to pass a boot they can't help but lick.

[NongKhaiKid]

"Win stated that he was curious and grabbed a garden hoe and went to sneak a peek of the couple making out."

Curious, so grabbed a garden hoe??

Flashers need an old raincoat and now it seems voyeurs need to carry a garden hoe, We live and learn.

[brizzle]

While there, he was given updates in the developments of the murder case and expressed his satisfaction on how the case was being handled and his government would not interfere in any way with the investigation.

Sounds like the British ambassador was unwittingly put on the spot while socialising with the Royal Thai Police high so's.

They obviously don't want the DNA results double checked by the British ..I wonder why?

Whatever could of made me so cynical?

[Tham1]

Knew this would happen from day 1 - why did the Police attempt to pay someone 700,000 baht for a false witness statement then if they knew these 3 guys were getting the blame?

[SteveFong]

a campaign on twitter to the ambassador is a good start

[retsdon]

Mrs Retsdon tells me that almost nobody Thai believes these Burmese are guilty either.

[NongKhaiKid]

Mr. Kent went on to praise the Royal Thai Police in solving the case and have shown exemplary professionalism as a crime fighting unit.

People from the UK must be so proud of their ambassador to Thailand.

i have said on several other threads on the forum that the ' art ' of diplomacy can be taken to extremes and can include being extra nice to the host nation especially when not warranted.

If he meant his words he's a fool and shouldn't be in the job and if didn't, and I trust he didn't, he could have said something less gushing.

He must be one of only a small number here that could consider ' exemplary professionalism ' was shown.

It would be justifiable if the families and media in Britain climbed into the Foreign Office about the whole situation.

[evil slabby]

"taken to a safe house" and " Intensively interrogated".....

In other words, having the living shit beaten out of you until you break and sign an already written confession statement..

[InspectorRex]

If this is all true then it's great news for the families to these scumbags finally arrested and give at least some closure for them.

There's a lot of unsolved all around the world that will never be solved and the Thai police were under the pump from day one with such a high profile case.

Let's hope that all the authorities involved in this case will learn from this including procedures and press statements in future cases.

18 days is excellent work considering the amount of suspects they had to deal with.

Well done despite the press gaffs along the way!

Agree completely with you. As I mentioned in another thread, not exactly textbook criminal investigating, but, it now appears certain the RTP have found the culprits.

The way the families of David and Hannah have conducted themselves throughout this ordeal is a real credit to them. I am also extremely proud of the RTP for sticking to their guns and investigating they way they deemed most appropriate.

I believe this outcome will surely go some way to restoring people's faith in not only the RTP, but also in Thailand as a holiday destination.

Stay safe guys, use common sense and let's all stop with the silly conspiracy theories and get on with the healing process for all involved.

[Lingba]

Horse Crap!

[Wilsonandson]

It's on channel 7 now, saw the police with a iPhone in a plastic bag, is this Hannah's phone? A wet sandy phone thrown into a bush behind the room the suspected Myanmar 3 lived. The clip they show also shows the main suspect buying LM cigarettes on CCTV footage inside the 7 11.

Personally it looks like they've been framed and I wonder who paid the police and provided the phone?

They are really selling this story on Thai TV today.

Amazing that the tourism minister visits, predicts the case shall be solved soon and a few days later, voilà, solved.

My advice to tourist's ---- Don't piss off a High Society person whilst on holiday.

[Patje]

In my opinion : if it looks like bs.... and it smells like bs ...... then it is probably bs ......

But I hope I'm wrong ..... and they really are the ones who did it

[JeremyBowskill]

"Safe house" why? its not like its mafia trial (although maybe should be) why would a safe house be needed? Surely a good Rodney Kinging at the local nick could have yielded the same results?

[SteveFong]

Ambassador Kent

https://twitter.com/KentBKK

[pinkpanther99]

"Police officers then led the two to a safe-house where they were intensively interrogated."

Even if that turns out not to be what many of us think, it doesn't sound good and does nothing to improve the already dreadful image of not only the police involved in this investigation but also the police in Thailand in general.

I wonder if this interrogation was recorded?

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

If this is all true then it's great news for the families to these scumbags finally arrested and give at least some closure for them.

There's a lot of unsolved all around the world that will never be solved and the Thai police were under the pump from day one with such a high profile case.

Let's hope that all the authorities involved in this case will learn from this including procedures and press statements in future cases.

18 days is excellent work considering the amount of suspects they had to deal with.

Well done despite the press gaffs along the way!

Agree completely with you. As I mentioned in another thread, not exactly textbook criminal investigating, but, it now appears certain the RTP have found the culprits.

The way the families of David and Hannah have conducted themselves throughout this ordeal is a real credit to them. I am also extremely proud of the RTP for sticking to their guns and investigating they way they deemed most appropriate.

I believe this outcome will surely go some way to restoring people's faith in not only the RTP, but also in Thailand as a holiday destination.

Stay safe guys, use common sense and let's all stop with the silly conspiracy theories and get on with the healing process for all involved.

The only thing that will restore my faith in the RTP is a start from scratch with whole new police force.

[bruceybonus]

If this is all true then it's great news for the families to these scumbags finally arrested and give at least some closure for them.

There's a lot of unsolved all around the world that will never be solved and the Thai police were under the pump from day one with such a high profile case.

Let's hope that all the authorities involved in this case will learn from this including procedures and press statements in future cases.

18 days is excellent work considering the amount of suspects they had to deal with.

Well done despite the press gaffs along the way!

Agree completely with you. As I mentioned in another thread, not exactly textbook criminal investigating, but, it now appears certain the RTP have found the culprits.

The way the families of David and Hannah have conducted themselves throughout this ordeal is a real credit to them. I am also extremely proud of the RTP for sticking to their guns and investigating they way they deemed most appropriate.

I believe this outcome will surely go some way to restoring people's faith in not only the RTP, but also in Thailand as a holiday destination.

Stay safe guys, use common sense and let's all stop with the silly conspiracy theories and get on with the healing process for all involved.

Meanwhile the real killers are sitting somewhere laughing and joking. Does that sit easy with you in cloud cuckoo land?