Killings Koh Tao: Newspaper hits hard on police investigation
Day after day, since the bodies of the two British tourists were found on Koh Tao, the police have made obvious and serious mistakes. From top to bottom, she has flattered the voracious media. The purpose of police press conferences is not to inform the public. They are personal promotion stunts by officers seeking publicity to advance their careers.
Bangkok Post the police give it a good beating in its editorial. The police investigation on Koh Tao proves that the police still have a long way to go to become a truly professional organisation. The newspaper lists some blunders:
- The media and photographers have been allowed access to the crime scene.
- Photos belonging to the coroner's office and courtroom have circulated on the internet.
- Innocent bystanders and 'interesting persons' have been presented to the media as half-convicted criminals.
- Reconstructions are only opportunities for the men in brown to have themselves photographed. They have long outlived their usefulness.
Result? "Every film and TV crime fan knows that a contaminated crime scene means that the evidence found there cannot be used against suspects in court."
Exciting detective
The above hard words were written by the newspaper yesterday and today they are underlined again with the opening article. It resembles an exciting detective, in which the reader is constantly looking over the shoulder of detectives à la Colombo. I'll highlight a few highlights:
- Prime Minister Prayuth has sent soldiers to the island because of growing concerns [of whom?] about the possibility of a group of "influential persons" being involved in the killings.
- The police heard witnesses in the Lotus bar. Scotsman McAnna, who has declared to have been threatened and fled the island, would have asked staff to help wipe blood spatter from his body.
- De New York Times reports on its website that foreigners who have lived on Koh Tao warn tourists about the mafia on the island. It would hold the island in its grip.
- Deputy Police Commander Somyot Pumpanmuang denies the existence of "influential groups". The local population cooperates well with the police, he says.
- The DNA of the brother of the owner of the AC bar where the victims had been on the night of the murders does not match the semen found at the British. He denies being the "Asian-looking" man, of whom there are CCTV footage.
And so it goes on. It is gradually becoming an inextricable tangle of (contradictory) facts, rumors and (confusing) statements, which do not contribute to a clear picture of what happened. I quit. Bangkok Post is right: the police still have a long way to go. [And the newspaper, by the way, in its reporting.]
(Source: Bangkok Post, September 24 and 25, 2014)
Earlier messages:
Killings Koh Tao: The Frenchman is a Scot
French tourist can identify perpetrators of Koh Tao murders
Interview with McAnna (translated): Friend murdered Brit flees 'mafia' on Thai island
Koh Tao murders: Investigation makes 'significant' progress
Koh Tao murders: Nightclub raid, Asians suspected
Koh Tao Murders: Investigation deadlocked
Koh Tao murder: Roommate victim questioned
British government warns: be careful when traveling in Thailand
Two tourists killed on Koh Tao
Yes, also experienced dramatic experiences where the police wanted to settle it quickly with suicide, while the hands were tied behind the back. But in the end, almost all perpetrators and clients were arrested and convicted. Still a lot better than the Ned. and especially Amsterdam police who cannot solve a settlement, then now with informers and informers. Incredible and often corrupt boy scouts who, despite dozens of files, cannot bring a criminal to justice. The mafia has been organized for a long time now the police. Despite a great effort to track down the perpetrators, where they are in Ned. still have a lot to learn, because the detection rate there is only 17%.
Moderator: Please don't comment exclusively on each other.
I can understand that because of the nationality of the victims, my English colleague in my office follows this case with great interest and reads everything that is written and tweeted about it. He reported this morning that there is a story on the internet of an American who has now returned to his homeland after living on Koh Tao for 15 years. This American wrote a fascinating story about 5 families that control Koh Tao. This in itself is not surprising, because similar power structures can be found on many smaller islands in the world, probably also on Schiermonnikoog or Vlieland. Specifically Thai is that the police form the sixth family.
The American suspected that the police make mistakes not so much because of ignorance, but certainly also because of the fact that - if the perpetrator is found - so many legal (formal) errors have been made that he (certainly an acquaintance of one of the 5 families) ) might get away with it. My colleague finds it quite astonishing that without any indication the police apparently assume that the rapist is also the murderer. Anyone whose DNA doesn't match the rapist seemingly goes free (may leave the island) while there are also two murders to solve. It remains to be seen whether the rapist(s?) are also the murderer(s?).
Long ago, Koh Tao was only a prison. Chance?
And to think that everyone on Koh Tao knew who the perpetrators were a day after the murders.
The police thought it would blow over, but misjudged the international pressure.
The investigation is now such a mess that no one will ever be convicted again,
unless they can find another cat catcher. TIT
We can all confirm the criticism of the media without any doubt.
Even I, the great defender of Thailand, am well aware (I have already written here) that a police investigation in Thailand is not of the same professionalism as we are used to in the West.
Then I'd like to reiterate my reiterated point: the fact that there has been so much international uproar over (poor) two murders is yet another proof that it's not a regular occurrence in Thailand.
If only I lived in Thailand.
Very easy for the editor-in-chief of the Bangkok Post to point the finger at the police for incorrect news coverage.
He'd better keep his reporters under control. Now the Scot McAnna is put back in the suspect's bench.
Hans, that can only play a part, can't it?
I think the international interest is also there because there is a perception (in my opinion rightly so) that Thailand is a safe country (especially for tourists).
In Brazil, for example, there are victims of tourists every month, for decades, but you don't read anything or little about those crimes.
It is of course also possible that there are a number of special aspects to this crime that may lead to a sensational denouement.
That could also be a reason why the foreign media is following this case so closely…
It is too striking that we get the status of this murder file almost every day.