Koh Samui prison chief fears Koh Tao murder suspects may commit suicide

[shocky2004]

Have you guys noticed that the prison chief said that a little bit after the 2 burmese suspects retracted their confessions to one of their lawyer?

[shocky2004]

If they would of have died like a week ago, It would of been very easy for the police to just close the case pretending that the 2 suspects already confessed and it would probably just be suicide then case closed.

But now that both of them have retracted their confessions, it's getting pretty interesting. Cause if something do happens to them, you better believe their laywers gonna speak out since they spoke with them on severals occassions and saw bruises on their body...

People are starting to speak out, i think police won't be able to cover this one up. I might be wrong though but the last 2-3 days have been very interesting.

[SICHONSTEVE]

SS - they haven't been convicted of any crime, so it's not appropriate for the prison chief to say - for the crime they have done...

My friend, no use explaining anything to PsychoactiveSteve he's let say' no longer with us in soul,mind or spirit ..... (NUTTER) .......

I tell you what is funny - I have never mentioned ANYTHING pertaining to the prison chief and what he said in ANY postings at ANY time so I don't know where you are getting this idea from!!!

Methinks that I got the better of you in previous topics and that you are trying to get a few cheap shots back. Well, believe me, it ain't working pal, Like water off a ducks back to me.

[wackybacky]

SWEET!

Prayut greeted by protest in Yangon

Yangon: -- Thai junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha's first overseas trip since seizing power on May 22 was greeted with a protest in Yangon this morning over the controversial arrest of two 21-year-old migrant workers from Myanmar for the murder of two British tourists in Thailand last month.

Nay Myo Zin, a former military captain who runs the Yangon-based Myanmar Social Development Network, said yesterday that protesters would gather between 8am and 9am at Maha Bandoola Park to call for an independent investigation into the charges against the two 21-year-old Myanmar migrant workers: Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun.

"I urge every Myanmar citizen who loves the truth to participate in the demonstration," he told Daily Eleven yesterday.

"I will call for an independent investigation into the case against the two Myanmar suspects who have been accused without concrete evidence," he said, adding that flaws in the police investigation had already been pointed out in Thailand.

The pair has been described as "scapegoats" for the grisly murders and rape on Koh Tao (Turtle Island) in Thailand's Surat Thani province on September 15. The crime cast an unseemly light on Thailand's carefully constructed image as a safe and friendly destination for tourists, while the arrest of migrant workers raised concern among rights groups who said it fit a common pattern in Thailand of blaming migrants for crimes.

Nay Myo Zin said the initial location for the demonstration was in front of the Thai embassy, but protest organisers were denied permission to protest there.

Prayut, the general who led the coup against Thailand's elected government, is making his first overseas visit since resigning from the military to become prime minister. He is expected to discuss the high-profile murder case with President Thein Sein when they meet in Nay Pyi Taw. Prayut is also scheduled to meet executives of Thai businesses in Yangon.

Representatives of the Myanmar Embassy met the suspects earlier this week as well as a witness against them, Maung Maung, who said he knew nothing about the case and was included as a witness for the prosecution only because police found the trousers of one of the suspects in his room.

Both suspects have recanted their confessions, saying they had been tortured into making them. Thai prosecutors, meanwhile, have sent the reportedly more than 800-page case file back to police, saying it lacked "critical information", while the country's top forensic expert has also questioned the investigation. Porntip Rojanasunan, head of Thailand's Central Institute of Forensic Science, told Thai media that the way police handled the case "contradicted the principles of forensic science".

Prayut and Thein Sein are also expected to discuss energy, border security, the cross border narcotics trade and the Dawei special economic zone. While the two governments attempt to restart the stalled SEZ, civil society groups in the area are joining forces to call for greater transparency, more involvement with local communities, environmental safeguards and a ban on chemical and coal-fired plants at the SEZ.

Prayut has faced little public protest in Thailand since seizing power, after which he curtailed press freedom and clamped down on dissent. His visit to Myanmar is occurring as the country is undergoing a transition from military rule to democracy.

Source: http://www.nationmul...n-30245172.html

[McQwaid]

Am I really going to sit back and watch and read that two people will be dead soon?

I thought up a post organizing a meet up on Khao San with posters ... then I realized that I could have just ended my time here in Thailand if I posted it.

I also realized that ... I'm a Coward in some sense. Helping these guys will take some testicular fortitude with risks.

One press release from Aung San Suu Kyi requesting due process would be a life saver!

Please someone - protect these two "Suspects" from harm before the trial

[SICHONSTEVE]

If they would of have died like a week ago, It would of been very easy for the police to just close the case pretending that the 2 suspects already confessed and it would probably just be suicide then case closed.

But now that both of them have retracted their confessions, it's getting pretty interesting. Cause if something do happens to them, you better believe their laywers gonna speak out since they spoke with them on severals occassions and saw bruises on their body...

People are starting to speak out, i think police won't be able to cover this one up. I might be wrong though but the last 2-3 days have been very interesting.

Retracting a confession in Thailand is meaningless - this is the normal practice, I know!!!

Anyone notice who retracted them? The defence lawyer did (not them) as he is obliged to in his capacity as a defence lawyer!!

[phuketandsee]

AD reporting that an investigation is under way in the UK headed by a Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Hayward. Be interesting to see where that goes.

[kkup]

I wonder if the members against the general consensus are undercover employees of TV trying to get a rise out of people. More activity = more ad clicks

[SICHONSTEVE]

I wonder if the members against the general consensus are undercover employees of TV trying to get a rise out of people. More activity = more ad clicks

I realise that is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but not me - I am just trying to balance it out a bit although that doesn't stretch to going beyond my beliefs on this!!!

The bigotry being thrust at me is akin to a 'crime against humanity' but it won't put me off!!!

[ggt]

Well...we have been warned...so when this prediction comes true...the officials told us so...and the best thing ever...there will be no more allegations of wrongful prosecution by those in custody...

[Jip66]

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said "So many Thai children got zero in maths, even though it was a multiple-choice test," he said. "I can't believe that our children can be this stupid."

I'm afraid it goes ALOT deeper than just Thai children....

[wackybacky]

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said "So many Thai children got zero in maths, even though it was a multiple-choice test," he said. "I can't believe that our children can be this stupid."

I'm afraid it goes ALOT deeper than just Thai children....

Well all the police would have been children at one time, I can only imagine the quality of education going back 30 to 40 years of so.

It seems to be shining through at every level today.

[Tingtau]

Oh, this is not going to end well.

Due to the high profile nature of this case, these two need to be placed in a single-cell status away from the GP with 24-hour cctv.

IMHO, they are safer with other inmates around, though the danger of a planted assassin cannot be ruled out. In a cell by themselves, it is more probable that they will be found hung and there will be problems with the CCTV tape.

I would think it much easier to explain the actions of a "rogue" inmate killing them in the general prison population than to explain how they hanged themselves under 24-hour guard in isolation.

This is precisely what happened "allegedly" in the Prasin Nunkaew jail murder.....he was found "beaten to death" less than 24 hours after being remanded to the Trang Remand Prison where he was being held in general population. According to a sole report filed by Bangkok Coconuts reporter,(see - http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/07/10/stepdad-accused-raping-daughter-7-stomped-death-prison) Prasin was "stomped to death by Worapong Suwanwichit, a convicted arsonist" , "identified by prison guards as a big shot' after Khun Nunkaew "sat in his chair". Wow!! I wonder what Mr. Big Shot got for that....a murder charge, littering, or extra privileges? I get a feeling for how upset the judicial system was at Mr. Big Shot for ruining their opportunity to allow Khun Nunkaew his day in court. I mean the Bangkok Coconuts report is the only one I can find alluding to anything having come of any investigation into this matter.....and there ain't no further info given as to what actually did happen to Mr. Big Shot if he did indeed "stomp Prasin to death" over his "having sat in his chair" !!

[A1Str8]

I don't think that people feel guilty for something they didn't do.

[Johnsen]

They might just be spared.. Go back to KOH TOA REVIVAL PLANNED and read again. A bombshell has just been dropped. Finally

[kblaze]

I wonder if the members against the general consensus are undercover employees of TV trying to get a rise out of people. More activity = more ad clicks

I realise that is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but not me - I am just trying to balance it out a bit although that doesn't stretch to going beyond my beliefs on this!!!

The bigotry being thrust at me is akin to a 'crime against humanity' but it won't put me off!!!

mate you ruin the impact of exclamation marks if you use them on every sentence.

unless of course, you prefer to appear always yelling

[Tingtau]

After what happened to Prasin Nunkaew, who was beaten to death less than 24 hours while being held in general population at the Trang Remand Prison just 3 months ago, it seems ludicrous that these two Koh Tao, allegedly self-confessed rape/murder fellows have been put into GP at the Koh Samui prison. Granted they’re charged with rape/murder of two adults as opposed to Prasin’s charge of sexual molestation of his 7 yr-old step-daughter, but every scintilla of police common sense, would cry out that there is a definite need here for these fellows to be kept in solitary confinement, under 24/7 watch, if for no other reason than to ensure that, short of a bolt of lightning striking those two in full view of hundreds of civilian witnesses, they live to have a full trial! I, Officer-In-Charge of this investigation, NOT having been dropped on my head at birth, realize that, if these two guys die in general population, a cloud will forever be over the investigation and my reputation, indeed the reputation of the whole police/prison service!!

Chanin Llangsuwan, chief of Koh Samui District Prison reportedly remarked that “ I have instructed other in-mates to monitor the two Burmese men…” Why? (Because) “ I am afraid that they may commit suicide, because they show signs of stress”! Really!!.... and stress due to what? “They may be feeling guilty for the crime they have done." Oh, really!! Well, ring the bell please!! Your public may have a couple of other scenarios in which they may consider it to be reasonable for them to feel stress at this point. At least one of those would involve circumstances of innocence coupled with a reasonable fear for one’s safety since their defence obviously involves making allegations of unlawful acts by the police themselves.

No, asking other inmates, who share the general population with these two, to "monitor" these two is ingenuous at best. If a gaggle of GP geese in the Trang Remand Prison did in fact stand by while some "Mr. Big" stomped a fellow to death for "sitting in his chair" what's going to happen if a couple of "Mr. Big"s at Koh Samui prison decide to do the same for some equally brilliant reason. Even if that were to happen, IF these two end up dead whilst in GP, there will be those of us “honest” folk out here, who will never ever believe that and will be of the opinion that one CAN NOT put their trust in the Thai judicial system!! If ever a situation cried out for transparency AND security for the well-being of an accused, this case is at the top of the list.

I don’t know what the truth is here, however I do know that if I were one of the investigating officers and the investigation was completely on the up and up, I would be really ticked at having our work questioned on the basis of falsehoods and innuendo. That’s perfectly understandable…..BUT...all the more reason on the judicial side for ensuring that those two don’t miss a well deserved and fully transparent trial by reason of some “mischance whilst in general population”.

Witthaya Suriyawong, director of the Department of Corrections, is understandably concerned about their safety and reportedly stated “I also want officials to set up CCTVs and guards to monitor their safety when they sleep." Good idea!! Would that not be most easily achieved if these two are in solitary confinement?

[Bung]

An amazing statement from the police and just shows the contempt that they hold everything in this case to.

It comes out that they tortured those boys to get a confession out of them (of course)

Then the boys talk to someone from their own country finally who they could trust and recant their confessions.

So the police just threaten that they "may commit suicide" in prison. I have no doubt in my mind that the prison officials and their inmate "stooges" can facilitate this very easily.

No matter what, the police will not back down from saying these boys did it and they will push the conviction through as fast as possible.

I fear for those two brave young boys sitting there at the mercy of these animals.

[Johnsen]

With what is being released on a Facebook page now I think they'll be dead by morning... Unbelievable. The PM, Suthep and co will be guilty of murder. The fb page is very damming and explains it all really and who is behind the cover up..

[SICHONSTEVE]

With what is being released on a Facebook page now I think they'll be dead by morning... Unbelievable. The PM, Suthep and co will be guilty of murder. The fb page is very damming and explains it all really and who is behind the cover up..

How does the PM and Suthep come into the equation all of a sudden.

I think you will find that they will be alive and well in the morning.

[loongdavid]

With what is currently being circulated on social media reference the double Koh Tao homicides together with the derogatory and abusive comments aimed at both the military administration, RTP and prison authorities, I would not be at all surprised if one or more were closed down. Some of the postings directed towards the heads of police and prisons are quite frankly over the top. It is one thing suspecting corruption it is quite another to prove it and still another to broadcast it. Farang should realise that their continued residence in Thailand is literally in the hands of those who are being criticised. Not a good move I would have thought.

[bongoz]

The world's media MUST report this for what it is...

That way when the inevitable happens, Thailand can't wash their hands of it and say o'well case closed, visit Thailand and bring your $$$ because we love HATE westerners, Thailand is a SAFE place to visit.

[inutil]

With what is currently being circulated on social media reference the double Koh Tao homicides together with the derogatory and abusive comments aimed at both the military administration, RTP and prison authorities, I would not be at all surprised if one or more were closed down. Some of the postings directed towards the heads of police and prisons are quite frankly over the top. It is one thing suspecting corruption it is quite another to prove it and still another to broadcast it. Farang should realise that their continued residence in Thailand is literally in the hands of those who are being criticised. Not a good move I would have thought.

Get on yourself

[bongoz]

They must really think the rest of the World is blessed with an IQ in the low double digits.

Nah they think the rest of the world has the same IQ as them...

[Malthus101]

[bongoz]

With what is currently being circulated on social media reference the double Koh Tao homicides together with the derogatory and abusive comments aimed at both the military administration, RTP and prison authorities, I would not be at all surprised if one or more were closed down. Some of the postings directed towards the heads of police and prisons are quite frankly over the top. It is one thing suspecting corruption it is quite another to prove it and still another to broadcast it. Farang should realise that their continued residence in Thailand is literally in the hands of those who are being criticised. Not a good move I would have thought.

Who the hell wants to live in Thailand after all this shit?

If you continue to support this corrupt and vile country under military rule, you are just supporting them and are a part of the problem!

Thailand has had it's day...

Thailand is DEAD

RIP David and Hannah...

[motlau]

Perhaps some inmate may murder them because of the 'disgrace!--brought on his beloved country --so its a crime of passion foreigners harming Thailand therefore perfectly understandable, a small fine and all is back to normal

The frightening thing is these people think this will just go away

[Local Drunk]

With what is currently being circulated on social media reference the double Koh Tao homicides together with the derogatory and abusive comments aimed at both the military administration, RTP and prison authorities, I would not be at all surprised if one or more were closed down. Some of the postings directed towards the heads of police and prisons are quite frankly over the top. It is one thing suspecting corruption it is quite another to prove it and still another to broadcast it. Farang should realise that their continued residence in Thailand is literally in the hands of those who are being criticised. Not a good move I would have thought.

Uh huh, I see. It's all fine unless you "Question Authority".

[phuketandsee]

With what is being released on a Facebook page now I think they'll be dead by morning... Unbelievable. The PM, Suthep and co will be guilty of murder. The fb page is very damming and explains it all really and who is behind the cover up..

How does the PM and Suthep come into the equation all of a sudden.

I think you will find that they will be alive and well in the morning.

Try reading a bit more then connect the dots.

[loongdavid]

With what is currently being circulated on social media reference the double Koh Tao homicides together with the derogatory and abusive comments aimed at both the military administration, RTP and prison authorities, I would not be at all surprised if one or more were closed down. Some of the postings directed towards the heads of police and prisons are quite frankly over the top. It is one thing suspecting corruption it is quite another to prove it and still another to broadcast it. Farang should realise that their continued residence in Thailand is literally in the hands of those who are being criticised. Not a good move I would have thought.

Who the hell wants to live in Thailand after all this shit?

If you continue to support this corrupt and vile country under military rule, you are just supporting them and are a part of the problem!

Thailand has had it's day...

Thailand is DEAD

RIP David and Hannah...

Strangely enough it would seem, many thousands of ex-patriots call Thailand home and are extremely happy to do so.

As there was no previous comment made giving support to the current military administration one has to wonder your motives for raising it. As for Thailand having had its day and being "DEAD", I guess we won't miss you when you leave.