Myanmar men accused of killing British tourists deny charges

SURAT THANI, December 8 (TNA) – Two Myanmar suspects who are accused of murdering two Britons on Koh Tao Island in southern Thailand last September have denied charges in a court here. The Ko Samui Court today summonsed the two Myanmar suspects to inform them of their charges relating to the murder of the two British tourists. Representatives of the Myanmar embassy in Thailand were present in the court. Wai Phyo and Zaw Lin, both 21, appeared clam when they were taken by Thai authorities to the court to hear their charges. Judge Sunawin Suriyaphan, deputy chief of the Ko Samui Court, read the charges against the two Myanmar men. Both men were indicted by public prosecutors for illegal immigration, unauthorized stay in Thailand, the premeditated murder of the male tourist, the rape of the female tourist and the murder of her to conceal their crime. Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing a cell phone and eyeglasses from one of the victims. After hearing the charges, the defendants consulted with their lawyer and then denied all the charges. The judge set February 25, 2015 for examination of evidence and witnesses. Tun Aye, Myanmar charge d’affaires to Thailand, said the Myanmar embassy would make application with the court for bails of for the two suspects and give the court assurance that it would take care of them to prevent them from fleeing the country. (TNA)