Bangkok bombing: Chinese Uighur Karadag tortured into confession, lawyer says

[webfact]

Chinese Uighur was tortured into confessing role in Bangkok bomb: lawyer
BY AMY SAWITTA LEFEVRE

BANGKOK: -- A Chinese ethnic Uighur man arrested in Thailand over a bombing that killed 20 people in Bangkok last year denied on Monday charges of murder or involvement in the attack, retracting an earlier confession his lawyer said he was tortured into making.

Adem Karadag, also known as Bilal Mohammed, is due to appear at a military court on Tuesday, along with a second suspect, Yusufu Mieraili, to formally hear the charges. Police said both men had confessed to having a role in the Aug. 17 explosion.

A lawyer for Karadag, said his client was coerced into confessing that he took part in the attack. Most of the victims were foreign tourists, raising concerns that the country's lucrative tourist industry could suffer.

Full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-blast-idUSKCN0VO0ID


-- Reuters 2016-02-16

[smedly]

nice try lol

[z42]

And it is almost certain that once again the authorities will simply deny this & not investigate the allegations in an acceptable manner. I personally don't disbelieve the suspect here, and further to that there were supposedly translation problems that weren't resolved until after he was charged, which begs the question how did he or the RTP say, read or in any way FULLY understand what was said.

Another disgraceful farce. I'd love to proven wrong, but the evidence so far that is being used looks to be far from conclusive. I'll happily eat my words if anything more definitive than a dubious confession / grainy cctv shots come to light

[Bluespunk]

Would anyone be surprised if this was true?

[lust]

Hmmm, deja vu?

[Valentine]

Seems to be a good excuse for many accused. On the other hand the police should show more evidence rather than just a confession to prove their case.

Edited February 15, 2016 by Valentine

[canuckamuck]

Sorry the reward money has been handed out already and the officers have got their new pickup trucks

[Wilsonandson]

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/bangkok-blast-alleged-bomber-has-confessed-to-being-involved-in-attack-says-lawyer

The lawyer said his client had previously insisted he was not in the country on the day of the attack.

But after meeting his client on Wednesday, Mr Schoochart reversed his position.

"I met Adem this morning for about an hour and he said he confessed voluntarily to planting the bomb," the lawyer told reporters outside the military barracks in central Bangkok where the accused is detained.

It was not immediately clear if authorities were present during the Wednesday meeting.

Hmm, maybe he was tortured, but to prove it is another thing.

[Srikcir]

On a different note.

The Junta claimed the bombing was an act of revenge for the military cracking down on the group's human trafficking activities and not terrorism, ie., against Thailand. So why the trial in military court and not in a criminal court?

With all its reform of justice one would think that the Junta can trust the civilian court system to now deliver an open and fair decision. But maybe that's the problem. Too open and fair with defendent's rights. Take into account that a criminal court decision can be appealed twice adds more uncertainty while there is no appeal to a military court decision.

[abitmiffed]

Now where's that bandwagon?

[Yann55]

Seems to be a good excuse for many accused. On the other hand the police should show more evidence rather than just a confession to prove their case.

You just nailed it Valentine.

In this day and age where not only forensic science but all other police methods of investigation have made giant leaps forward, confessions should simply get out of the picture. It's a practise that dates back to antiquity, a practise which reached peaks of horror under the Inquisition, Hitler, Stalin, Pinochet ... not exactly the most commendable company.

One factor hasn't changed, though : human beings. They are still lazy, opinionated, greedy, power-hungry, conceited, terrified of losing face and willing to use all kinds of vicious methods if they know that they'll get away with it.

Which is why the great minds who set out the founding principles of democracy in the 18th century insisted on the absolute necessity to create countervailing powers to each of the three powers entrusted by the people to their elected representatives (legislative, executive, judiciary).

Not only did they realize that those three powers had to be separate otherwise despotism was due back in no time at all, but also that each of them needed some kind of 'mirror institution' capable of questioning its moves and, if necessary, cancel them.

The police is an essential part of the executive power. Where is its countervailing power ? And I'm not talking about Thailand only, so please spare us the knee-jerk reactions about the present and ex Thai governments. My post is not about that, it's about the use of confessions.

Edited February 16, 2016 by Yann55

[lucky11]

Hmmm, deja vu?

I wonder if Andy Hall and his HR cronies have involved themselves in these (surely) innocent persecuted immigrant's plight!!.

[Bluespunk]

Hmmm, deja vu?

I wonder if Andy Hall and his HR cronies have involved themselves in these (surely) innocent persecuted immigrant's plight!!.

Yeah, who needs human rights, eh?

Bloody guardian readers the lot of them.

[Barnet]

Breaking News - Bridge loving pensioner claims torture in ongoing case.

Mr. X claimed Col. Somchai forced him to teach him the rules of Bridge over 12 hours at the end of which Col. Somchai revealed his understanding as "Mai Sanook."

[Snackbar]

Plastic bag over the head. Electric shock treatment. Beatings, Reenactments, presumed guilty. Why do they resort to these practices?

There is no SARS in Thailand. There are no sex establishments. A Thai would never do such a thing.

Third world thinking.

[SOTIRIOS]

...are they referring to yesterday and today...

...is it too much to put clear, full dates in reports....???

[NCC1701A]

Ever wonder how long you could stand up to torture?

Well wonder no more! Welcome to Thailand and the new "Spa Torture" and S&M Club in Bangkok.

Spa Torture is owned by Thai police officers. That's right, the very same police you read about everyday torturing suspects are available for you in your own private 60 minute torture session.

In our "Koh Tao" suite you can relax with our highly experienced professionals and enjoy having a plastic bag over your head until you blackout, electric stocks, scalding hot water, waterboarding and a good old fashioned beating.

So book your session today and find out how long it is until you "confess".

[MZurf]

Hmmm, deja vu?

I wonder if Andy Hall and his HR cronies have involved themselves in these (surely) innocent persecuted immigrant's plight!!.

Yes, those pesky human rights advocates. They should attitude adjust the lot of them!

On a more serious note you really are an unsavory character, aren't you (rhetorical, no answer necessary).

[WitawatWatawit]

Adem may very well have been tortured to extract a confession. It's logical for us to presume so because the police have ensured immediate and unequivocal mistrust of them in every instance they are involved in. Hatred of them is pretty much total throughout the country. If a police officer tells the truth - and that's a mighty big IF - who's going to believe him? A member of what Interpol calls an organized crime gang being honest? He may well be, but who's going to buy it?

Edited February 16, 2016 by WitawatWatawit

[Nemesis7]

"Tortured to get confession " nothing unlikely.

What if some had to take the fall and these men are the scapegoat only ? The international media and community was watching and day by day the incompetency level was being widely discussed everywhere so the drama was staged , people were caught, reward was claimed by the police and story was closed and every body looked good Infront of the camera. Happy ending.

I'm just saying what if, then again I may be totally wrong.

[Monkeyrobot]

Sorry the reward money has been handed out already and the officers have got their new pickup trucks

why do the hand the reward out before the conviction ??

[phoenixdoglover]

Torture is the answer.

Now, what was the question?

[hawker9000]

This is what happens when police and the judiciary are untrusted. EVERYTHING becomes tainted and tarred with doubt and suspicion which even the most meticulous handling of any specific case can't overcome. One member commenting in another topic awhile back seriously asked why even corrupt police couldn't do their jobs. THIS is why. The public perception is that Thai interrogations at least sometimes involve coercion, so they might as well all involve it because it will always be believed so.

[webfact]

Suspects brought to court for start of Bangkok bombing trial

NATTASUDA ANUSONADISAI, Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — Two foreigners accused of carrying out a deadly bombing of a Bangkok landmark last year were brought to a military court Tuesday for the start of a highly anticipated trial that's been marred by one of the accused claiming he was tortured to elicit a confession.

The two men — Bilal Mohammad and Mieraili Yusufu — are facing 10 charges, including conspiracy to explode bombs and commit premeditated murder. Reporters were allowed inside the courtroom, but were asked to leave their phones, notebooks and pens outside, and officials did not announce to those outside whether the trial had begun.

It is expected that the suspects will enter their pleas on Tuesday, which will be followed by questioning and the formal trial.

Authorities have described the suspects as ethnic Uighurs from western China's far western Xinjiang region. They say the Aug. 17 bombing of the Erawan Shrine was revenge by a people-smuggling gang whose activities were disrupted by a crackdown. However, some analysts suspected it might have been the work of Uighur separatists who were angry that Thailand in July forcibly repatriated more than 100 Uighurs to China, where they may be persecuted.

The Erawan Shrine is popular among Chinese tourists, and many were among the victims. Twenty people, including 14 foreign tourists, were killed and more than 120 injured in the bombing, one of the deadliest acts of violence in Bangkok in decades.

Police are hunting for another 15 suspects in the case, but no progress has been announced.

An official told reporters before they were led inside the courtroom Tuesday that authorities were trying to arrange for translators, one who would translate the proceedings in Thai to English, and another who would translate English to the Uighur (pronounced WEE-gur) language, which the defendants had asked for. At their last court appearance in November, the defendants had refused to take a plea because there was no Uighur translator available.

On Monday, Bilal's lawyer, Chuchart Kanpai, told The Associated Press that Bilal avows he was tortured by security personnel into falsely confessing to the attack.

Chuchart said that his client would deny all charges brought before the court except that of illegal entry into Thailand.

"He was tortured by officials. He didn't know if they were soldiers or police because they were non-uniformed," Chuchart said. "Back then, he confessed so that he wouldn't be tortured again. He was just saying it."

Yusufu, whose intentions for his court appearance were not known, was arrested Sept. 1 near the Thai-Cambodia border. He was carrying a Chinese passport that indicated he was from China's Xinjiang region.

Bilal was initially identified as Adem Karadag, the name on a fake Turkish passport he had when he was arrested Aug. 29.

Police say the case against the two suspects is supported by closed-circuit television footage, witnesses, DNA matching and physical evidence, in addition to their confessions. Police believe Yusufu detonated the bomb minutes after a backpack containing the device was left at the shrine by a yellow-shirted man they suspect was Bilal.

Military courts in Thailand have handled criminal cases deemed to involve national security since a May 2014 coup.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-02-16

[webfact]

Erawan Shrine bomb suspects at military court to hear charges today



BANGKOK: -- Two Erawan shrine bomb suspects Adem Karadag and Yusufu Mieraili were today escorted to the Bangkok Military Court under tight security to hear 10 counts of charges to be brought against them over the bombing last year that killed 20 people.

Karadag denied all charges but admitted only of illegal entry into the country.

The charges include murder, illegal possession of explosives, and illegal entry.

Adem Karadag, also known as Bilal Mohammed, a Chinese ethnic Uighur man, is the first bomb suspect who was arrested, while the second suspect Yusufu Mieraili was arrested at the Thai-Cambodian border.

Karadag was seen in surveillance cameras wearing yellow shirt putting a bag, believed contained explosives device at the fence, near the Erawan shrine before walking away. A few minutes later the bomb went off.

Seventeen people, mostly foreigners, are wanted in connection with the August 17 shrine explosion last year, but only two were arrested. 15 are still at large.

In addition to hearing the charges to be filed against them, the state prosecutors will also question Adem Karadag after his lawyer requested the Court’s permission for further questioning after his client said he was coerced into confessing to having a role in the 17 August bombing.

The Thai lawyer Chuchart Kanphai said Karadag was tortured and confessed to the charges under pressure after visiting him in detention.

But the junta’s spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree said later he doubted about the torture while in military custody.

He said he was confident nothing happened to the two suspects while they were in military custody.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/151146


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-16

[than]

Same poor defense for help a criminal.......

[Khon Kaen Dave]

Ahaaa,no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

[jerojero]

Not surprised at this claim coming forward, nor that it may possibly be true. Who knows.

[Bluespunk]

''An official told reporters before they were led inside the courtroom Tuesday that authorities were trying to arrange for translators, one who would translate the proceedings in Thai to English, and another who would translate English to the Uighur (pronounced WEE-gur) language, which the defendants had asked for. ''

Would it not have been better to arrange this before they were being led into court?

[Ulic]

Well......What I learned from the great Pattaya Bridge player bust is the confession means

less than nothing as you merely withdraw the confession in court. The bridge players all

(but one German lady with great moral fiber) confessed to gambling when they were

charged with having more than 120 playing cards at the venue. There lawyer advised them

to plead guilty pay the bail/fine and then withdraw the confession in court. Just what I

learned.