Koh Tao suspects to be indicted by end of month

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: Thawatchai Siangjaew, deputy director general of Regional Public Prosecution 8, announced yesterday that prosecutors should be able to indict two Myanmar men charged with the murder of two Britons on Koh Tao by the end of this month.

Citing his earlier chat with Provincial Police Region 8 deputy chief Pol Maj-General Praween Pongsirin, Thawatchai said the additional police investigation requested by prosecutors was about 80-per-cent complete and that police would submit the case report again in two weeks.

On receiving the report, prosecutors would be able to conclude it and pass it to the Samui public prosecutor to indict Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin, he said, adding that this should take place by the end of this month.

‘Case being handled carefully’

He confirmed that the public prosecutor and police working on this case were trying to be careful and as detailed as possible, while keeping the Office of the Attorney General constantly updated on developments.

He went on to say that British police had visited the crime scene and that they should be satisfied with the procedure followed as per the Thai justice system.

Meanwhile, police escorted the two men – both 21 – to Koh Samui court yesterday morning to apply for a fourth extension of 12-days in detention.

The duo appeared calm and less stressed compared to before, possibly because of frequent visits from their lawyer and representatives of the National Human Rights Commission, police said.

— Phuket Gazette Editors