National police chief warns against distorted information on Koh Tao murder

BANGKOK: -- Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyot Phumphanmuang today warned of tough legal action for anyone who posted false information on the social network criticizing the handling of the Koh Tao murder case by the police which he said could cause rift and a threat to economy.

He said posting information which is inaccurate and false could breach Article 14 of the Computer Crime Act and is subject to five year imprisonment and 100,000 baht fine or both.

The commissioner’s legal action threat came after he brought the influential village headman of Koh Tao, Woraphan Toovichien or Phuyai Wo and his son, Varot, to a press conference Thursday morning to show their sincerity to allow the police to have DNA test on his son.

Phuyai Wo arrived in Bangkok from Koh Tao to seek justice for his son Varot after he was accused in the social network of having connection with the murders of the two British tourists David Miller and Ms Hannah Witheridge on September 15.

A post on the Internet which was widely shared suggested Varot fled the island immediately after the murder took place, and the photograph which his lawyer showed to prove he was not in Koh Tao but in a Bangkok hostel on the night of the murder was retouched.

The police investigators were also criticized for not requiring DNA test for him.

The village headman said the accusation has badly tarnished his family and damaged his business and therefore would like to bring his son to meet the police commissioner to prove himself by having the DNA test.

He insisted again his family and his son were not involved as widely accused on the social network.

Pol Gen Somyot said that the police did not collect DNA sample from Varot for test during the investigation because there was evidence that he was not in Koh Tao on the night of the murder.

But to clear all allegations, he said, Varot’s father wanted to prove his son’s innocence by willingly offer the DNA test.

Result of the test will be known tomorrow.

Pol Gen Somyot, however, made clear that the DNA test on the son would have no impact on the police case file which has been finished with all circumstantial and forensic evidence submitted to the prosecutor for indictment of the two Myanmar suspects.

He said that the police knew who posted all the false information which he said intended to discredit the Royal Thai Police as well as the government.

He said he has designated the computer crime suppression police to investigate and bring the poster to trial as the post has hurt tourism and economy.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/national-police-chief-warns-distorted-information-koh-tao-murder/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-30

Guess that means we are all going into hiding now;)

I suppose the Commissioner will have to charge himself, then.

Guess that means we are all going into hiding now;)

Hmmmmmm........some of you should.......................

Guess that means we are all going into hiding now;)

Hmmmmmm........some of you should.......................

And why's that? Do you think the RTP have jurisdiction in New York, Paris, London or Rome?

I will continue to speak freely should the need arise, not just on this matter but on any subject I want too.

A post on the Internet which was widely shared suggested Varot fled the island immediately after the murder took place, and the photograph which his lawyer showed to prove he was not in Koh Tao but in a Bangkok hostel on the night of the murder was retouched.

Pol Lt Gen Panya said a second suspect, who fled the resort island to Bangkok, will likely be taken into custody soon

Meanwhile a police source said the police are also looking into the cooperation of those who helped to arrange the suspect to escape. They also will be arrested

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/koh-tao-murder-suspect-arrested-another-on-the-run.html

He seems a little confused. Maybe he should talk to Pol. Lt-Gen. Panya Mamen.

the police have gathered enough evidence to implicate them in the murders.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/one-tourist-murder-suspect-now-arrested-another-run/

What happened to this evidence? Lost between Surat Thani and Bangkok?

Not really sure about the facts of this case as they seem a bit fuzzy. But the national police

chief is being crystal clear in his threats against anyone posting information contrary

to the official police version. It would seem at this point that whoever the police started

out trying to protect with their crappy investigation, at this point I think they are

trying to protect the tatters of what is left of their reputation......

And this coming from a guy in charge of those most responsible for "distorted information"!!

Lord have mercy!!

Maybe he too needs to speak with Prayut's wife?

Something to hide???

Sorry my friend, those days where you could threaten people to shut up, are well and truly over!!

Say good bye to another million less tourists...

And ofcourse it is a pure coincidence that this statement comes on the very day, that he had lunch with one of his bigger sponsors, Nomsods father!!

OMG. This post could earn me 5 years in jail!!

But I will take my chanches and post it anyway.

Sorry my friend, those days where you could threaten people to shut up, are well and truly over!!

I agree. In the old days, if this murder happened, a few quick calls

by the police to the print and television media would kill the story immediately. Now with the power of social media, these stories

become like a cork in the water. The more you try to push it down,

the more it wants to pop up. The police clearly do not understand

the dramatic information shift that has occurred.....

You can't beat the powers of social media, chief!!!!

The man is a dinosaur.

"Pol Gen Somyot, however, made clear that the DNA test on the son would have no impact on the police case file which has been finished with all circumstantial and forensic evidence submitted to the prosecutor for indictment of the two Myanmar suspects."

What? Not even if it's a match?

The man is a dinosaur.

More like a backstabbing snake...

"He said posting information which is inaccurate and false could breach Article 14 of the Computer Crime Act and is subject to five year imprisonment and 100,000 baht fine or both."

Hope thay JTJ and jdinasia will visit their fellow posters in Bangkok Hilton!!

The man is a dinosaur.

Pre-dinosaur!!

He could start by requiring his own staff to stop providing their personal speculations, victims & suspect personal details etc. to every journalist that probe them.

I thought Somyot was on the missing list,

or was that another high-ranking police chief

that disappeared when the Yard turned up?

Distorted? What about accurate information? We know who did it!

"Pol Gen Somyot, however, made clear that the DNA test on the son would have no impact on the police case file which has been finished with all circumstantial and forensic evidence submitted to the prosecutor for indictment of the two Myanmar suspects."

What? Not even if it's a match?

I guess care has been taken that it cannot be a match

If we had not realised it before, this is much bigger than just protecting his friend,the headman!!

Supplying drugs to the 3 islands is a billion baht franchise, which the BIB under no circumstances will allow to be interrupted!!

Day before yesterday, our friend here bought shares on SET for 360 million baht (in his wifes name) in a company called WAT.

Hahaha.

If he had hold of and was conducting a proper investigation instead of a circus, there wouldn't be any speculation.

Wasn't the supposedly cut and dried case thrown back 3 times?

Numpty

Is the rumor true that he got a job offer in North Korea?

No freedom of speech in LOS???

More human rights infringements.

If they did their jobs properly in the first place and weren't constantly filmed taking bribes from motorists, or jailing their police chiefs for corruption and drug dealing etc.... Then maybe the police would get a little more respect.

This case has so many inconsistencies in it that in a proper civilised country the outcry would be no different.

Criticism is what keeps people on their toes. It is not illegal and if you want to arrest me for this statement, then go ahead, because I would do everything in my power to make my arrest part of the Koh Tao cover up system. I will make sure it reaches far and wide.

I am a fully trained internet marketer. I can get stuff around.

I thought Somyot was on the missing list,

or was that another high-ranking police chief

that disappeared when the Yard turned up?

You got it all wrong.

He was not on the missing list,

he was the missing link!!