Koh Tao Murder: Thai Police 'Not Embarrassed' By UK Probe
By Khaosod English


Thai police chief Pol.Gen. Somyot Pumphanmuang on Koh Tao island, 3 October 2014.

BANGKOK — Thai authorities say they are ready to cooperate with the British police delegates who have been authorized to observe their controversial investigation into the murder of two British backpackers in southern Thailand last month.

The United Kingdom decided to dispatch their own police to Thailand after a number of UK and Burmese officials expressed concern over Thai police’s inquiry into the murder of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, whose bodies were found on a beach on Koh Tao island on 15 September.

Thai police have accused two Burmese workers of killing the Britons, though many human rights organisations believe the men are "scapegoats" who have been forced to confess by police. Thai police have adamantly denied the allegation.

The arrival of UK authorities will not affect the credibility of the Thai police in any way, a spokesperson of the Royal Thai Police said in a press conference yesterday.

"We are not embarrassed," Pol.Lt. Prawut Thawornsiri said. "Both the UK and Burma are our friends. If they have any doubts about the incident, they can request for information from the Royal Thai Police, and we are willing to cooperate with them."

The UK government says its delegates will focus on two issues: whether forensic tests implicate the Burmese suspects as claimed by the Thai police, and whether the suspects have been mistreated while in police custody.

The Thai authorities previously stalled in responding to the UK's request to observe the murder inquiry, but junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is said to have acquiesced after UK Prime Minister David Cameron personally pressed him about the matter during an international summit in Italy last week.

According to Pol.Lt. Prawut, the police spokesperson, the principle of Thai sovereignty will not allow UK police to directly investigate the case on their own, but Thai police will happily provide them with any information they request.

Moreover, the Thai police are no longer involved in the investigation anymore because they have already finished the case file and sent it to the public prosecutor, Pol.Lt. Prawut said.

"This case is now beyond the police’s duty. We cannot violate the power of the Office of Attorney-General. We have to respect and honour their authority," the spokesperson told reporters. "When the Attorney takes up the case, police officers will serve as witnesses in the court ... and the court will deliberate whether the suspects are guilty as charged."

Nevertheless, Pol.Lt. Prawut added that Thai police will conduct any additional investigations per request from the British officers to "clarify any issues they don't understand."

Pol.Lt. Prawut did not say when the British delegates will arrive in Thailand.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1413790292


-- Khaosod English 2014-10-20

Not yet anyway.....

I expect the UK police will be locked up as soon as they comment once here, "for working without a work permit".

Shouldn't be embarrassed by the UK probe.

Should be embarrassed tho.

Moreover, the Thai police are no longer involved in the investigation anymore because they have already finished the case file and sent it to the public prosecutor, Pol.Lt. Prawut said.

So the police consider this case closed?

There is "0" chance of additional suspects?

These two Burmese kids did the hole thing by themselves?

I would never consider bringing my family to that island, most likely there are still murderers/rapists on that island.

I will be going to every single travel website I can comment on and warn people of the danger they are in if they go to KT, as well as KP and Samui just for the fact they are in close proximity. I would encourage everybody to do the same.

Edited October 20, 201411 yr by dcutman

Will the RTP re open the case if new evidence comes to light or if the current two suspects are exonerated by the court? Or does shut means shut and if current suspects are scapegoats it means the real perpetrators are scott free already, regardless what the courts decide or UK investigation will result in?

"The Thai police haven't lost any credibility"

Correct, as they have none to lose

"The arrival of UK authorities will not affect the credibility of the Thai police in any way, a spokesperson of the Royal Thai Police said in a press conference yesterday."

Indeed not, how can their credibility drop below zero?

They should not only be embarrassed by by UK probe, but by the whole way they have screwed up the whole case to protect the "untouchables"

They are truly an embarrassment not only for Thailand, but for anyone working as police anywhere in the world!!

"Nevertheless, Pol.Lt. Prawut added that Thai police will conduct any additional investigations per request from the British officers to "clarify any issues they don't understand."

so if the uk police requests the dna from Nom Sod,RTP will provide it?

Edited October 20, 201411 yr by kaobang

"We are not embarrassed," Pol.Lt. Prawut Thawornsiri said.

Not yet.

"Thai police will happily provide them with any information they request."

Really? That remains to be seen...

"Thai police will conduct any additional investigations per request from the British officers to "clarify any issues they don't understand."

Great. Don't forget that statement boys.

Hopefully Scotland Yard will clarify any issues the Thai don't understand.

Anybody know for sure why this case is getting so much attention? The fact that the PM Cameron requested personally makes me that the victim's family must be very connected politically. I have never seen a murder of a farang get this much focus. But it does sound like the court case is pretty set in stone and they don't even say if any new evidence can be brought to the court by these investigators... Also thinking that maybe these investigators are already here secretly, not yet revealing themselves to the authority.

"Nevertheless, Pol.Lt. Prawut added that Thai police will conduct any additional investigations per request from the British officers to "clarify any issues they don't understand."

so if the uk police requests the dna from Nom Sod,RTP will provide it?

probably they will bring a sample and say it's from him

Anybody know for sure why this case is getting so much attention? The fact that the PM Cameron requested personally makes me that the victim's family must be very connected politically. I have never seen a murder of a farang get this much focus. But it does sound like the court case is pretty set in stone and they don't even say if any new evidence can be brought to the court by these investigators... Also thinking that maybe these investigators are already here secretly, not yet revealing themselves to the authority.

Lost for words......better stick your head back in your beer batter.

If there was any lingering doubt amongst posters that the real killers would get away scot free, this statement from the police should clear it.

No-one who is a member of Koh Tao's ruling clans will be investigated, let alone charged and, god forbid, actually jailed.

It is appalling. There have been many cases similar in the past and there will be many more to come, usually with Thais as the victims. Thailand's powerful elite cling on to an untouchable status akin to that seen in centuries past in the rest of the world whilst hiding behind an opaque wall of bare-faced lies and a pathetic belief that showy wealth somehow equals respectability.

The arrival of UK authorities will not affect the credibility of the Thai police in any way, a spokesperson of the Royal Thai Police said in a press conference yesterday.

Sure it won't ... you don't have any to being with.

I think the header should be changed to Koh Tao Murder: Thai Police 'Not Embarrassed' By Anything

Koh Tao Murder: Thai Police 'Not Embarrassed' By UK Probe

Of course not..........shame is a foreign word.

Anybody know for sure why this case is getting so much attention? The fact that the PM Cameron requested personally makes me that the victim's family must be very connected politically. I have never seen a murder of a farang get this much focus. But it does sound like the court case is pretty set in stone and they don't even say if any new evidence can be brought to the court by these investigators... Also thinking that maybe these investigators are already here secretly, not yet revealing themselves to the authority.

Do you think it might be something to do with the murder being mentioned all around the world, the more than 100,000 signatures on change.org or the almost 350,000 likes that the CSI LA facebook page has got. If you're thinking the victim's family may be very connected politically you might be a bit out of touch with the way things work in England or Jersey.

cannot be embarrassed if you are shameless. They are clearly very comfortable with their incompetent and corrupt reputation. Keep up the good work boys. At least you are consistent.

I always thought you had to have a conscience to embarrased....hmmmmm...

Anybody know for sure why this case is getting so much attention? The fact that the PM Cameron requested personally makes me that the victim's family must be very connected politically. I have never seen a murder of a farang get this much focus. But it does sound like the court case is pretty set in stone and they don't even say if any new evidence can be brought to the court by these investigators... Also thinking that maybe these investigators are already here secretly, not yet revealing themselves to the authority.

You obviously don't know very much.

The ridiculous botched and deliberately sabotaged investigation of the Kirsty Jones murder / rape in Chiang Mai resulted in several questions in the House of Commons over several years and South Wales Police coming to Thailand on several occasions.

If you know jack and can't be bothered reading up, you would be best sticking to your afternoon beer and stop making ill-informed, callous comments.

Anybody know for sure why this case is getting so much attention? The fact that the PM Cameron requested personally makes me that the victim's family must be very connected politically. I have never seen a murder of a farang get this much focus. But it does sound like the court case is pretty set in stone and they don't even say if any new evidence can be brought to the court by these investigators... Also thinking that maybe these investigators are already here secretly, not yet revealing themselves to the authority.

there was a murder of an Australian 2 years ago in paying, Phuket. It was a woman on the beach. Yingluck was PM. The Aussie PM, Julia Gillard personal intervened and there was no,petition.

Australian interests by our PM came into play

Thailand jumped.

I see no difference in David Cameron intervening either. People are outraged all over the world as Thailand is not looking enticing on many fronts at present and this incident has sparked troubles everywhere for Thailand.

A saying maybe appropriate here... The straw that broke the camels back?

Maybe governments have had enough of this tourist haven harming their citizens

Anybody know for sure why this case is getting so much attention? The fact that the PM Cameron requested personally makes me that the victim's family must be very connected politically. I have never seen a murder of a farang get this much focus. But it does sound like the court case is pretty set in stone and they don't even say if any new evidence can be brought to the court by these investigators... Also thinking that maybe these investigators are already here secretly, not yet revealing themselves to the authority.

Do you think it might be something to do with the murder being mentioned all around the world, the more than 100,000 signatures on change.org or the almost 350,000 likes that the CSI LA facebook page has got. If you're thinking the victim's family may be very connected politically you might be a bit out of touch with the way things work in England or Jersey.

Richard is 100% right, and what bitterbatter doesn't understand is that (unlike Thailand) you do not have to be "connected" to get (or escape) justice.

Ps. Patong. I hate autocorrect

Anybody know for sure why this case is getting so much attention? The fact that the PM Cameron requested personally makes me that the victim's family must be very connected politically.

You've been in Thailand too long. There's a general election next year and this is a safe vote-winner.

If there's a Columbo "gotcha" moment that destroys the RTP's case, the Junta may fall.

Huge stakes here.

If there's a Columbo "gotcha" moment that destroys the RTP's case, the Junta may fall.

Huge stakes here.

Or the perfect opportunity for The Military to clear out the RTP and with it the red shirt BIB

just one thing needs to be done otherwise it will not make any difference if the UK police are here or not

Number 1 - The UK police need to take their own DNA samples of the suspects to match it with the DNA found on the bodies which the UK police has.

Simple...and the uk police should be able to do this. They should also make a formal request to be able to do this...if refused then you know 100% that something is wrong. In the uk in DNA checks can be requested and independently done by any party if they request so. So stop them doing this would be sure sign of a cover up.

The tests here were not done independently.....the results were done independently but the samples came from the Thai police....plenty of time to frame, falsify evidence. The whole process needs to be done independently, simple as that.

Moreover, the Thai police are no longer involved in the investigation anymore because they have already finished the case file and sent it to the public prosecutor, Pol.Lt. Prawut said.

So the police consider this case closed?

There is "0" chance of additional suspects?

These two Burmese kids did the hole thing by themselves?

I would never consider bringing my family to that island, most likely there are still murderers/rapists on that island.

I will be going to every single travel website I can comment on and warn people of the danger they are in if they go to KT, as well as KP and Samui just for the fact they are in close proximity. I would encourage everybody to do the same.

As soon as you place anything detrimental on Trip adviser ...they remove them Defeats the object really.