‘Mafia island’: From paradise to bloodshed

KOH TAO: -- WITH its spectacular turquoise water, lush jungles and laid-back vibe, the tiny island of Koh Tao seems like paradise.
But behind the beauty lies a darker side.

The Thai island has landed in the spotlight this week after the shocking discovery of a tourist hanged outside his bungalow. And it’s not the first time horror has found its way there: The news comes just days after a Koh Tao murder trial was postponed for two Burmese men accused of murdering two
British backpackers last September.

Officially, the death of hanged Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, has been ruled a suicide, with police saying there were no signs of a struggle and a suicide note was left in the room, according to local media site Thai PBS.

However a photo claiming to show the man’s hands tied behind his back has emerged, sending social media sites into a flurry of suspicion. How could this possibly have been a suicideAn expert has also voiced his doubt about it being a suicide.

Povse reportedly had wounds around his neck and two 5-centimetre lacerations to his arm. One was near his elbow, the other by his wrist.

However, Associate Professor Charnkanit Krittiya Suriyamanee, a criminologist and lecturer at the faculty of social science and humanities of Mahidol University told Thai PBS that if he’d hung himself, the bruises should have appeared on his neck, but not his wrists. Also, he noted that there were several pieces of rope used which appeared to be different, which was suspicious.

No wonder speculation is rife.

Read More: http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/mafia-island-from-paradise-to-bloodshed/story-fnizu4n5-1227181210830

--
-- News.com.au 2015-01-11

This is good material for TAT.

"Visit Koh Tao......The Mafia is waiting to greet you"

What's all the fuss? We all know that this will be covered up just like the last murders. There is no rule of law against the rich and powerful.

or the slogan could be: Kho Tao:if you survive-you survive anything...survival at it's best

Never catch me back there. The only money I would spend on that place again would be for the poison to eradicate all the scum.

Its just never going to go away all.

Do the authorities still think that anyone, here or abroad following events, believes these two Burmese boys are guilty?

Do the authorities really still think that all these suspicious deaths will all be forgotten about in the era of social media?

I doubt Koh Tao will ever recover to anything near approaching the tourist revenues of the past. Its reputation appears, from what i keep reading, to be shattered for good. Such a shame because its such a beautiful island.

You reap what you sow!

I did not think there was any Mafia in Thailand ,thats

according to the Police,and other Govt. agencies,

Its like if you say it enough,it will be so.the biggest

organized criminals here wear uniforms of different

colours.

regards Worgeordie

The "investors" are not going to be amused!! Island of Death back in the limelight again..............

This is good material for TAT.

"Visit Koh Tao......The Mafia is waiting to greet you"

Selective memory again Costas??

Your darling General rewarded the local police-force for their excellent job, so I presume, there is no mafia left?

Or is the General to busy playing with his puppet, so crime fighting have to wait....................

Anybody ever played any of the "Far Cry" games?

I will never ever take one step on this island. NEVER!

Koh Tao - A special Government protected killer zone

What's all the fuss? We all know that this will be covered up just like the last murders. There is no rule of law against the rich and powerful.

No, I think you are wrong. This mafia island is coming too much in the spotlight now so they will soon understand they cannot afford any wrongdoing anymore.

May be even justice will be done one day.

Guessing that things like the recent gruesome double murder (of course "not committed by Thai"), the suspicious death of an Englishman one year ago, the recent death of a diver and now this unclear death have happened all the time and been swept under the carpet it is good that the crimes over there are now coming into public and the internet is watching.

Sometimes things have to become worse until they can get better - even if I doubt in this Koh Tao case that they are worse now - it might be just things are uncovered.

Calls into Jeff Probst are yet to be returned. Put's a whole new spin on the game.

What is worrying is that other Thais elsewhere in Thailand are surely learning how easy it is to kill westerners.

Anybody ever played any of the "Far Cry" games?

Yes, I love them. Especially Far Cry 3 and 4, where I get to kill all the red shirts and liberate the red villages.

Guess the Ministry of Culture hasn't figured Far Cry out yet.

This won't slow down tourism there.

How many check for sinister news stories when booking a ticket?

This won't slow down tourism there.

How many check for sinister news stories when booking a ticket?

You're kidding, right?

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

Never catch me back there. The only money I would spend on that place again would be for the poison to eradicate all the scum.

That bad Huh.

This won't slow down tourism there.

How many check for sinister news stories when booking a ticket?

You're kidding, right?

Nope.

The only reason I know is from being a member here. How did you find out?

Stories like this don't even make the news in most countries.

Plenty of murders happen in Thailand, it's not these things that stop tourists. You stop and think to keep your wits about you perhaps, but still holiday there.

Let's see how tourist numbers drop from this particular case.

This won't slow down tourism there.

How many check for sinister news stories when booking a ticket?

Seeing as it put up as Travel Advice - Warnings at least a few ought to see it and hopefully change their plans to visit the bl00dy place

hit the mafia where it hurts the most, (in the pocket) avoid the place and give it back to the fishermen

This won't slow down tourism there.

How many check for sinister news stories when booking a ticket?

You're kidding, right?

Nope.

The only reason I know is from being a member here. How did you find out?

Stories like this don't even make the news in most countries.

Plenty of murders happen in Thailand, it's not these things that stop tourists. You stop and think to keep your wits about you perhaps, but still holiday there.

Let's see how tourist numbers drop from this particular case.

According to people i know on the island they've already plummeted. Its big news in the UK and it continues on social media as do other incidences that look suspicious.

In the age of social media things are very different, for good or bad.

Many places around the world will have death people on their holiday

Things happen everywhere cologne moskwa new york rio tokyo bangkok jakarta

This won't slow down tourism there.

How many check for sinister news stories when booking a ticket?

Seeing as it put up as Travel Advice - Warnings at least a few ought to see it and hopefully change their plans to visit the bl00dy place

KT Warning.JPG

Indonesia has been upgraded to full heightened terrorist alert.

It didn't stop anyone from going.

How many check the travel advice sites for Thailand? Not many, especially the younger 25yo groups which seem to find trouble.

Many places around the world will have death people on their holiday

Things happen everywhere cologne moskwa new york rio tokyo bangkok jakarta

You have spectacularly missed the point. Its not about deaths as such its about how the crime is dealt with.

Koh tao is a beautyful place with 1 mio visitor coming every year with in total 12 fatality in 2014 incl accident and homocuid and suicide

So do the math that nothing

On the phollipones on 2014 more than 300 tourist lost their live just in manila not the 7000 islands with ransome kidnapping incl

Sounds like they have the Thai Hunger Games going on there

But didn't the top cop down that way claim with pride there is no mafia there?

we all know the BIB would never lie or hide something and never protect people that are criminals now don't we, because they are all fine upstanding and pride of the force.