Foreign investigators barred from Thailand: police chief
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Koh Tao case with prosecutors now; UK asked to launch independent probe
Foreign countries are not permitted to have investigators look into crimes that occur in Thailand, as that would be considered a violation of the country’s sovereignty, Police chief Pol General Somyot Pumpunmuang said yesterday.
He was referring to the murder of Britons David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on Koh Tao last month. Doubts have been raised about the police investigation that led to the arrest of two migrant workers from Myanmar, with many people claiming that the pair are scapegoats.
In a meeting initiated by the Thai side with Somyot earlier this week, the United Kingdom and Myanmar ambassadors said they wanted their representatives involved in the investigation.
“No matter what laws are taken into account, be it Britain’s laws or those of other countries, foreign investigators cannot take part in cases that take place in Thailand as this would violate the Kingdom’s sovereignty,” the police chief insisted.
He said that the ambassadors had already been informed of this, adding that the two countries were welcome to make their recommendations or observe the investigation.
Deputy police chief Pol General Jakthip Chaijinda, meanwhile, said the case had been handed over to public prosecutors, who were now officially in charge.
“I believe rumours and unconfirmed reports in social media claiming that the two suspects are scapegoats that have made the embassies doubt our investigation,” Jakthip pointed out.
He went on to say that police investigators had done their best, despite what is being claimed on social media.
Separately, Corrections Department director general Witthaya Suriyawongse said family members had every right to visit the two suspects, however, in the case of foreign detainees the family or the consul office has to apply for permission with the prison first. The suspects are being detained at the Koh Samui prison in Surat Thani province.
The Koh Samui prison is open to visitors from 8.30am to 11.30am and 1.30pm to 3.30pm from Monday to Friday. Visits can be no longer than 30 minutes.
Witthaya said he would have prison warden Chanin Liengsuwan facilitate the visits.
Meanwhile, the relatives of Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin Oo are still in Yangon awaiting a visa to come to Thailand.
Earlier this week, Win Zaw’s mother told the BBC she did not believe the young men committed the crime, adding that this ordeal has left her feeling suicidal. Zaw Lin’s mother said: “The case has been rigged against my son.”
Meanwhile, at the press time last night, more than 100,000 people from across the world had signed an online petition calling for the British government to order an independent inquiry into the murders. The British law stipulates that an e-petition with at least 100,000 signatures can be brought to and debated in the House of Commons.
Human rights lawyer Nakhon Chompuchat of the Lawyers Council of Thailand said the council was planning to appoint him as adviser to the team of lawyers for the two suspects next week, and that he would represent them in court.
“I will visit the suspects on Tuesday in prison to gather information and find out why they confessed during police interrogation. Previously, two lawyers visited them, but could only talk to them through the bars and it was very difficult to get too many details. The prison does not have a room for lawyers and the accused to sit down and talk.”
Worse still, he said, the suspects appeared to be afraid of talking to lawyers during the advance testimony hearing. He went on to say that once he has met them, he will be laying out a strategy for defence.
