Koh Tao Murders: Police arrest one suspect, launch manhunt for another

PHUKET: Police have arrested the brother of a local village chief on Koh Tao for the brutal slaying of British tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge last week (story here).

Region 8 Police Commander Panya Mamen named the man arrested only as “Mon”, reported Thai PBS.

Local officers are coordinating with Bangkok Metropolitan Police to hunt down a second suspect, the son of the same village headman, Lt Gen Panya said.

The man is believed to have fled the island and to be hiding in the capital. However, officers expect to apprehend him today.

Lt Gen Panya said both suspects were captured on CCTV cameras and that police had gathered enough evidence to implicate them in the murders.

He also assured that any persons who assisted the suspects in evading arrest would also face justice.

Gen Panya refuted media reports that scapegoats would be arrested for the murders.

He also dismissed any suggestion that local mafias or influential people could subvert justice.