Twists and turns in Thailand's bombing case

[webfact]

Twists and Turns in Thailand's Bombing Case
By Joshua Kurlantzick

Thai authorities claim progress, but many observers are dubious

BANGKOK: -- More than a month after the deadly bombing at central Bangkok’s Erawan shrine, the Thai authorities have made two arrests in the case, and issued at least seventeen arrest warrants overall. On Monday, the Thai police announced that one of the men in custody was the person caught on closed circuit television on the day of the bombing in August—the man who appeared to be leaving a bomb at the shrine. But some Thai commentators remain doubtful that the government has gotten closer to actually solving the case.

The lack of trust that the Thai authorities have arrested the actual perpetrators stems from several factors. First, in recent years the Thai police and security forces have demonstrated a pattern of problematic investigations of major crimes, whether the 2006 New Year’s Eve bombings in Bangkok, or the 2014 Koh Tao murder case, in which two foreign tourists were killed on the resort island.

In the Koh Tao case, the police initially announced that two indigent Burmese migrants, who are now on trial, confessed to the crime, but the two later recanted their confession and claimed that they only confessed after being tortured. They are now standing trial, but there are significant amounts of evidence that call their guilt into question.

Most recently, Thailand’s most prominent forensics investigator announced that DNA on the Koh Tao murder weapon does not match the DNA of the accused migrants. According to Time, “The [Koh Tao] prosecution’s case rests on DNA samples found on [one tourist’s] body that investigators say match the defendants. Defense lawyers had asked for the samples to be retested but police said the evidence had been ‘used up.’”

As commentator Saksith Saiyasombut notes, the Thai police also continue to use methods that seem, at the least, outdated. They continue to have people arrested for crimes appear in public to “re-enact” the alleged criminal acts. In early September, Thai police led one of the Erawan suspects, Yusufu Mierili, around central Bangkok, where he went through the steps he supposedly took on the bombing day, with reporters there to cover the re-enactment.

Full story: http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/twists-and-turns-in-thailands-bombing-case/

-- THE DIPLOMAT 2015-10-05

[jaidam]

This case has certainly had the highs, those being the three times cash rewards of millions of baht. And it certainly has the lows, those being the realization that they do not know who was responsible, why they did it, or how. As compared to the Koh Tao case where there was also cash rewards, but this time the police couldn't help but know who was responsible, why they did it, and how, and anyway chose to frame migrant workers instead of putting themselves in jail.

[bdenner]

My vote goes to the "Dubious Observers"

[aussieinthailand]

This case has certainly had the highs, those being the three times cash rewards of millions of baht. And it certainly has the lows, those being the realization that they do not know who was responsible, why they did it, or how. As compared to the Koh Tao case where there was also cash rewards, but this time the police couldn't help but know who was responsible, why they did it, and how, and anyway chose to frame migrant workers instead of putting themselves in jail.

100% spot on,

what I want to know is what happens to the reward money if the Kho Tao case comes unstuck for the BIB? and this current bombing case

apparently "solved" and rewards given out to cops? you would think after the last time rewarding themselves and the case going tits up that there would be 2 or 3 brain cells enough in one of them to say guy's wait until there is a conviction first then grab the money... but TIT

about as clever as paying 150 million to a couple of tennis players instead of using it to help the victims of the bombings, bloody idiots running the show.

[chrisinth]

My vote goes to the "Dubious Observers"

+ 1

[bamnutsak]

The "Saudi Gem" case will be resolved before this one.

Nothing new to see here.

[MaxLee]

Yes, seriously..... How could things go so smooth after the bombing, I mean being able arrest some pseudo suspect who seemed to be too stupid enough to remain in Thailand after his supposed act and which made further pseudo in estivation by the RTP soooo investigative for the International community, just at the time of our dear PM's UNmeeting and until the end of September, in which our former police chief retires with a big self serving cash award EXACTLY into his retirement?

All coincidence???

RAW, educated guess but fishy, isn't it?...

[aussieinthailand]

The "Saudi Gem" case will be resolved before this one.

Nothing new to see here.

The little chest nut really has been solved, everyone knows where it is, just not allowed to say so.

[godden]

The only person they haven't mentioned or charged is the butler.

[springheeled jack]

there will continue to be twists and turns in this case because the RTP are so inept they just haven't got a clue even with help from Interpol they still continue to blunder along literally going from bad to worse.

[Srikcir]

The Koh Tao case was already in shambles before accusing the B2.

The police first arrested David's friend Brit Christopher Alanvare. Police seemed sure they had quickly solved the case within 48 hours. But there was no DNA to connect him to the murders. It was only then that police revisited migrants as suspects, even after previously taking DNA and clearing them. Lo and behold police declared they had a DNA match on the B2.

Edited October 5, 2015 by Srikcir

[MaxLee]

there will continue to be twists and turns in this case because the RTP are so inept they just haven't got a clue even with help from Interpol they still continue to blunder along literally going from bad to worse.

Wrong, it is all about, turning the speculations IN FAVOR of the RTP themselves, EXACTLY in the way the WANT IT TO BE in the name of saving face-disgrace

[tuanku]

What these unsolved cases have in common is that there are very powerful reasons for them not to be solved.

Any level of public shambles is preferable to the truth coming out.

[chainarong]

Back flips as well

[Redline]

Another 10 million could bring more evidence

[Jimbo2014]

Time to put together another few thick wads of cash - that should result in a few more suspects rounded up.