Koh Tao Murder: Prosecutor Requests More Time

By Khaosod Eng.

SURAT THANI — The public prosecutor in charge of the Koh Tao murder case says his team needs more time to work on the investigation before the two Burmese men arrested by police can be tried in court.

Despite police's earlier insistence that the case was “perfect,” Tawatchai Siengjiew, chief of Region 8 Public Prosecutor Office, said today that the investigation is only "80 percent completed."

The case filed by police alleges that two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, were behind the murder of two British tourists on the island of Koh Tao on September 15.

"There has been delay because some witnesses live in Bangkok," public prosecutor Tawatchai told Khaosod. "The relatives of the defendants have also asked for fairness, so officials are investigating the points they requested in order to give fairness to all sides."

The court also ordered the two 21-year-old suspects to be detained at Koh Samui Prison for another 12 days today. They have been held in prison since they were arrested in early October.

The defendants' lawyer opposed their fifth round of detention, but the prosecutor overruled the objection, claiming that officials need to interrogate more suspects. Under Thai laws, the court can detain a suspect for up to 84 days before trial.

Read More: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1415364373

-- Khaosod English 2014-11-07

what became of the U K plod ?? or are they still taking tea ?

"The relatives of the defendants have also asked for fairness, so officials are investigating the points they requested in order to give fairness to all sides."

Should I be arrested please remind my mom to ask for fairness ...

What happened the slam-dunk DNA-evidence??

It a appears that a duck's backside might be more water tight that this case now appearing.

<The defendants' lawyer opposed their fifth round of detention, but the prosecutor overruled the objection, claiming that officials need to interrogate more suspects.> Quote

More suspects??? The plot thickens!!!

"There has been delay because some witnesses live in Bangkok," public prosecutor Tawatchai told Khaosod.

For crying out loud, you have had more than 2 months!!

I is a 1 hour flight from Samui!!

<Despite police's earlier insistence that the case was “perfect,” Tawatchai Siengjiew, chief of Region 8 Public Prosecutor Office, said today that the investigation is only "80 percent completed.">Quote

The house of cards are coming tumbling down!!

80% completed?? As compared to 100% BS!!

<The defendants' lawyer opposed their fifth round of detention, but the prosecutor overruled the objection, claiming that officials need to interrogate more suspects.> Quote

More suspects??? The plot thickens!!!

How did you manage to post this without blaming the military government? Surely you always hold General Prayuth responsible? After all, I am sure you think he controls the Surat Thani police and the Koh Tao mafia....

what became of the U K plod ?? or are they still taking tea ?

A number of posters have conjectured that the U.K. police are going to do something along the lines of Columbo meets Murder She Wrote and wrap the whole thing up in 90 minutes including commercial breaks.

These posters have totally misunderstood the role of the U.K. police here and have completely ignored the restraints they are here under. They will observe, they may request to review the case notes if they are permitted to see them, they may ask questions of the Thai police who may or may not choose to reveal evidence or information. Then they will report back to the Home Office, presumably, who will brief the Foreign Office.

They are not, by any stretch of the imagination, here in the role of participating in the prosecution of anybody.

"There has been delay because some witnesses live in Bangkok," public prosecutor Tawatchai told Khaosod.

For crying out loud, you have had more than 2 months!!

I is a 1 hour flight from Samui!!

84 days = 12 weeks = 3 months, so Thai law gives them the justification to keep the B2 in. If all else fails, there is the illegal entry to prosecute the guys, so I see no means they would be exonerated.

<The defendants' lawyer opposed their fifth round of detention, but the prosecutor overruled the objection, claiming that officials need to interrogate more suspects.>Quote

Don't know why, but the name Nomsod popped up in my head!!

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/prime_minister_admits_he_is_powerless_to_interfere_in_thai_judicial_system_to_get_justice_for_murdered_hannah_witheridge_1_3837209

Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted he is powerless to interfere with the Thai judicial system in the hunt for the killer of Hannah Witheridge - but spoke of his concern and said he stood ready to do what he could to help the country’s police

claiming that officials need to interrogate more suspects.

but

why?

perfect case

I almost feel sorry for the prosecutor, who have to defend the scam-"investigation" by the police!!

How can an investigation be 80% complete, if they still need to investigate more suspects??

After 2 months of investigation by (at some point claimed) a 100 Police the one and only not disputed fact so far is:

Two dead bodies of British origin. Possibly(?) one raped. One of them - female. Anything else is yet to be agreed upon by Prosecution.

British Police is hopefully being observant.

<The defendants' lawyer opposed their fifth round of detention, but the prosecutor overruled the objection, claiming that officials need to interrogate more suspects.> Quote

More suspects??? The plot thickens!!!

How did you manage to post this without blaming the military government? Surely you always hold General Prayuth responsible? After all, I am sure you think he controls the Surat Thani police and the Koh Tao mafia....

Instead of cleaning up beaches, fixing the taxi-ranks and moving streetvendors, maybe the dear general could apply a little pressure on the RTP??

But maybe he and the "kitten-hero" are golfbuddies??

I almost feel sorry for the prosecutor, who have to defend the scam-"investigation" by the police!!

Don't feel sorry. Prosecutor is weighing up how much he will get for this case, (Rumour has it there are millions of baht sloshing around the case) vs the amount he will lose by screwing up his career.

He can badly screw up his career by taking it to court and it flopping (no way a judge will agree to look bad - he will blame the prosecutor) or not taking it to court (and the police look bad). He needs to work with the police every day. He is the Surat Thani prosecutor.

So he is doing nothing except procrastinating and trying to find a way to get this hot potato off his desk.

But don't feel sorry for him, he will be well paid one way or the other.

the Burmese lads would be walking if they had money conections

who are these witnesses who live in Bangkok?

This case really must be flimsy

I almost feel sorry for the prosecutor, who have to defend the scam-"investigation" by the police!!

Don't feel sorry. Prosecutor is weighing up how much he will get for this case, (Rumour has it there are millions of baht sloshing around the case) vs the amount he will lose by screwing up his career.

He can badly screw up his career by taking it to court and it flopping (no way a judge will agree to look bad - he will blame the prosecutor) or not taking it to court (and the police look bad). He needs to work with the police every day. He is the Surat Thani prosecutor.

So he is doing nothing except procrastinating and trying to find a way to get this hot potato off his desk.

But don't feel sorry for him, he will be well paid one way or the other.

Well if you look at this via an angle - should he play time until the deadline, and the case would have to be dropped - no one would lose face per se. The RTP could still say the case was 100% complete, not their fault the law is made that way, while the prosecutor could say the case didn't have enough to go on with, and proceed with the illegal entry charges resulting most likely in deportation for the B2, and no further action would be needed on any accounts. Well, just a theory among others.

<The defendants' lawyer opposed their fifth round of detention, but the prosecutor overruled the objection, claiming that officials need to interrogate more suspects.> Quote

More suspects??? The plot thickens!!!

And above that is says some witnesses live in Bkk...hmmmm

I thought there was only two suspects. Others live in/escaped to to Bkk? Who could they be? Maybe the prosecutors realise more than two must have been involved, and that may not include the two Burmese.

<The defendants' lawyer opposed their fifth round of detention, but the prosecutor overruled the objection, claiming that officials need to interrogate more suspects.> Quote

More suspects??? The plot thickens!!!

And above that is says some witnesses live in Bkk...hmmmm

I thought there was only two suspects. Others live in/escaped to to Bkk? Who could they be? Maybe the prosecutors realise more than two must have been involved, and that may not include the two Burmese.

I feel really sorry for the victims families back in the UK, who have to endure this farce, after already have lost their loved ones!!

"There has been delay because some witnesses live in Bangkok," public prosecutor Tawatchai told Khaosod.

For crying out loud, you have had more than 2 months!!

I is a 1 hour flight from Samui!!

The police should ask Nomsod how to get Bangkok as quick as he did.

<The defendants' lawyer opposed their fifth round of detention, but the prosecutor overruled the objection, claiming that officials need to interrogate more suspects.> Quote

More suspects??? The plot thickens!!!

And above that is says some witnesses live in Bkk...hmmmm

I thought there was only two suspects. Others live in/escaped to to Bkk? Who could they be? Maybe the prosecutors realise more than two must have been involved, and that may not include the two Burmese.

And the really interesting thing is, that is the first time the term "other suspects" has been used by Thai officialdom!

The plot thickens indeed!!

<The defendants' lawyer opposed their fifth round of detention, but the prosecutor overruled the objection, claiming that officials need to interrogate more suspects.> Quote

More suspects??? The plot thickens!!!

And above that is says some witnesses live in Bkk...hmmmm

I thought there was only two suspects. Others live in/escaped to to Bkk? Who could they be? Maybe the prosecutors realise more than two must have been involved, and that may not include the two Burmese.

And the really interesting thing is, that is the first time the term "other suspects" has been used by Thai officialdom!

The plot thickens indeed!!

Interesting indeed, but until this news piece is confirmed by another paper, the word "suspects" could well just be a translation error.

I remain disgusted at the incarceration of the two accused from Myanmar.

But I am also thankful that this case, as well as recent comments coming from TAT and other ministries, so clearly reveals the emotional immaturity of most Thai adults, how deeply Face alone controls their behavior, and their total lack of comprehension of how their particular job is carried out in other parts of the world.

"There has been delay because some witnesses live in Bangkok," public prosecutor Tawatchai told Khaosod.

Witnesses to what? There were no witnesses to this crime. No one has spoken up.

So witness to what exactly? And how many could there possibly be that that is the reason for needing more time?

Unless any "witness" can put these boys at the scene of the crime then any "witness" testimony will be purely to confirm circumstantial evidence of some sort?! So obviously they are trying to build a case around nothing......