British authorities at Koh Tao crime scene

[Lite Beer]

British authorities at Koh Tao crime scene

SURAT THANI: British police made a surprise visit to Koh Tao yesterday (October 25) to inspect locations related to the murders of two backpackers, a source said.

They arrived on the island by helicopter from Bangkok, accompanied by Jarumporn Suramanee, an adviser to the national police chief, and Suwat Jaengyodsuk, acting deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

Pol Maj Gen Suwat is the chief investigator in the case, having been assigned earlier by national police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang to take over from local officers. Pol Gen Jarumporn is a forensic expert who went to the crime scene days after the murder occurred.

The trip was kept secret, with no police officers in Surat Thani province or Provincial Police Region 8 informed. Police based on Koh Tao and neighbouring Koh Phangan were not allowed to join the meeting or take pictures of the visitors.

Only one rescue volunteer on Koh Tao was brought in to provide information about the events of September 15, when Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were killed, according to the source.

The British team went to Sairee beach, where the two were murdered, and inspected the nearby location where the two suspects stayed and were seen playing guitar. They also went to the AC Bar where the two victims had been seen before their deaths, and stopped at a place near the clock tower where police claimed they had found Mr Miller's mobile phone.

They took pictures and asked for information before holding closed-door talks in the meeting room of the Koh Tao municipality before returning to Bangkok.

Three Scotland Yard police were believed to be on the trip from Bangkok, joining two others who had come to the island on Friday (October 24), according to the source.

At least one British officer is a homicide detective and another one is an experienced crime scene expert, another source said. They arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday (October 22).

Koh Tao mayor Chaiyant Turasakul said he was not aware of the visit and was only ordered to arrange local officials to facilitate their visit.

The visit of the British officers is a response to widespread concern about the Thai police investigation into the killings.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha agreed to a request by British Premier David Cameron to allow British police to observe the work of Thai police when the two met at the Asia-Europe Meeting in Milan on October 17.

Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin, two workers from Rakhine state in Myanmar, have been in custody since October 2 on murder and rape charges. Police said the pair had confessed to the crimes.

However, the suspects this week recanted their confessions, claiming they were tortured and Thai investigators threatened their lives. Lawyers acting for them have asked the Office of the Attorney-General to re-investigate all the evidence instead of relying only on the information supplied by police.

Prosecutors also have asked the police for more information to support an indictment, saying the initial 300-page investigative report was not complete.

The National Human Rights Commission is investigating the torture claims and the Lawyers Council of Thailand has stepped in to offer the two men legal assistance and fight the case.

-- Phuket News 2014-10-26

[Crossy]

Have they had access to the suspects yet, taken their own DNA samples?

I would have though that would be number one on their priority list.

[Basil B]

"British authorities"...

No, they are observers and possible advisers, but they have no authority in Thailand.

[54321]

I, like many people wish them the best of luck in helping to do what they can to ensure the people involved have their day or days in court.

[Local Drunk]

They will be polite and any doubts they have will be buried for the greater good of international relations. Just like the Thai police... They know their place in the chain of command.

[draftvader]

It is going to be a long wait for anything to be made public. The British police are not known for standing in front of cameras and trying to get their 15 minutes. That January inquest is probably when the first announcements will be made by the UK government unless something major has to come up to save some lives.

[dcutman]

and stopped at a place near the clock tower where police claimed they had found Mr Miller's mobile phone.

How many phones was David carrying with him? It appears to be at least three now.

Phone found by a clock tower? This is something never heard before, as far as I know. Unless of course the "clock tower" is behind one of the suspects friends home.

Edited October 26, 2014 by dcutman

[Soutpeel]

Have they had access to the suspects yet, taken their own DNA samples?

I would have though that would be number one on their priority list.

One suspects they will not be allowed to do this, it seems they are not here to conduct their own investigation, only to review what the BIB have done and I guess comment whether the investigate was conducted in accordance with accepted practice's for a murder investigation, I guess their findings will not be made public and will be for the eyes and ears of the families and British authorities and possibly the head BIB man in BKK

[tingtongfarang]

I, like many people wish them the best of luck in helping to do what they can to ensure the people involved have their day or days in court.

+1

But i have a sneaky feeling the thai officials MO will change to postponing court hearings one after the other with a myriad of excuses, they have the habit of dragging these things on for years if needed in the hope interest has waned.

[love1012]

"British authorities"...

No, they are observers and possible advisers, but they have no authority in Thailand.

.............LUCKILY for the Thai Police!!

[retsdon]

Despite the cynicism expressed on these pages, it's highly unlikely that the British police are here simply to endorse the TTPs investigation. They will be acutely aware that should further revelations come to light down the road, their own competence would be called into question if it were to come out that they had failed to ask the right questions or been party to a snow- job.

They might not get answers to their questions, but they'll certainly be asking them. And no doubt any obsfucatiom on the part of the RTP will figure in the inevitable report.

[JOC]

"Maj Gen Suwat is the chief investigator in the case, having been assigned earlier by national police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang to take over from local officers. Pol Gen Jarumporn is a forensic expert who went to the crime scene days after the murder occurred"

" a forensic expert who went to the crime scene days after the murder occured"

Yes, they were really trying to solve this case?? So a forensic expert was only asigned after the heat from media got too strong! Makes me doubt the results of the DNA even more, since the "expert" is another member of the RTP!!

[greenchair]

Are . The lawyers not allowed to apply for bail??

[Thaimaishoe]

"British authorities"...

No, they are observers and possible advisers, but they have no authority in Thailand.

Don't get your panties in a bunch, Thai Gov. officials are still referred to as Dignitaries, even though they have no dignity! (or shame)

[kaobang]

"British authorities"...

No, they are observers and possible advisers, but they have no authority in Thailand.

whats wrong with the statement?they are british authorities,not thai authorities...

[BangkokHank]

Have they had access to the suspects yet, taken their own DNA samples?

I would have though that would be number one on their priority list.

They probably feel there is no need to as they already know that the Burmese scapegoats are not the real killers.

[bertty]

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

  "British authorities"...

  No, they are observers and possible advisers, but they have no authority in Thailand.

  They will be polite and any doubts they have will be buried for the greater good of international relations. Just like the Thai police... They know their place in the chain of command.

  Yeah they have no authority in Thailand. They had no right to be on that island without the knowledge of the local police knowing about it.

• They had no right to go to the A.C. BAR.

• Just how much of a mug are you guys?

• Get back to watching how the Thai police do things and leave the real cops to do the work.

[jdinasia]

Have they had access to the suspects yet, taken their own DNA samples?

I would have though that would be number one on their priority list.

Obviously they should have spoken to you first....?

From the OP

"to allow British police to observe the work of Thai police "

[JOC]

I would have had a little more faith in the British guys independance if:

1. They had not accepted a helicopter-ride to the island with two highranking Thai policeofficers

2. Had stayed on the island for more than a little over an hour

They are never going to be allowed to get anywhere alone, they are politely going to be chaperoned every step of the way.

[JOC]

Have they had access to the suspects yet, taken their own DNA samples?

I would have though that would be number one on their priority list.

They probably feel there is no need to as they already know that the Burmese scapegoats are not the real killers.

What are their usernames on Thaivisa??

[ttthailand]

The Brits might go with the flow for now while collecting their information but they are not yes sir boys and will report their true findings. I have faith in them !

[steve187]

I would have had a little more faith in the British guys independance if:

1. They had not accepted a helicopter-ride to the island with two highranking Thai policeofficers

2. Had stayed on the island for more than a little over an hour

They are never going to be allowed to get anywhere alone, they are politely going to be chaperoned every step of the way.

Three Scotland Yard police were believed to be on the trip from Bangkok, joining two others who had come to the island on Friday (October 24), according to the source.

[lemonjelly]

<<Police based on Koh Tao and neighbouring Koh Phangan were not allowed to join the meeting or take pictures of the visitors. one rescue volunteer on Koh Tao was brought in to provide information about the events of September 15>>.......... read as: local police were spared having to answer any awkward questions, sent a local bodysnatcher instead.

[clockman]

Well, they did not find. Kirsty Jones killer. 14 years ago in Chiang Mai. And the british goverment did not help then either!

[darrendsd]

"British authorities"...

No, they are observers and possible advisers, but they have no authority in Thailand.

They are British authorities, they have no authority here however they are still British authorities and as such that's how they would be described.

I would have thought that was obvious even to your average TV poster?

[DarloKnight]

So if they can't do anything even if they find new, tampered evidence etc, why exactly are they there the British authorities is this just a waste of tax payers money?

[evadgib]

Have they had access to the suspects yet, taken their own DNA samples?

I would have though that would be number one on their priority list.

You're missing their purpose entirely & have outlined something that falls within the remit of the Burmese authorities & Interplod.

[JOC]

I think the best hope, is that some of the local farangresidents on the island, of which many clearly have be intimidated into silence, will open up to the British guys, relieved that they finally have cops, they can trust!

[RustBucket]

Have they had access to the suspects yet, taken their own DNA samples?

I would have though that would be number one on their priority list.

They WILL get DNA eventually unless the RTP are deliberately refusing ANYONE to take samples, which will totally debase their own sample credibility.

But the UK police may soon have access to more interesting DNA than that of the two suspects.

Isn't this chief suspect about to flee Thailand (if he hasn't already)?

If he steps one foot in the wrong country, it could be a matter of a simple phone call and he can find himself arrested and detained. Did I hear 'Australia' mentioned?.... please go to Australia. I expect he will be arrested at the airport if the UK see him as a suspect.

Nothing Thailand can do about it.

As for the RTP having matching DNA of the accused Burmese... No they do not. If they did, the public prosecutor would have sent the case to court already. What the RTP say and what is real are two completely different things.

Regards the members who hilariously think the UK police will hush up anything with this case for the sake of diplomatic relations. This I find the funniest of the lot. This can only be ordered from the very top.. The UK government. If any of that leaked out (and it would) then that would probably see politicians arrested and imprisoned in the UK, and you think they are going to risk that for Prayuth?

You seriously think the UK media in light of all the contradictory evidence and public feeling are going to let the UK government get away with corrupt cover ups in a cause as celeb as this.

I think this is just anti British wishful thinking on your own behalf. Quite shameful really and very shallow and transparent.

Edited October 26, 2014 by RustBucket
Slur removed.

[alfalfa19]

They will be polite and any doubts they have will be buried for the greater good of international relations. Just like the Thai police... They know their place in the chain of command.

Well, you just keep repeating that to yourself, and perhaps it will come true.