Police say 3 Asian men involved in murder of British tourists

BANGKOK, September 21 (TNA) - More than 10 policemen have collected DNA sample from fishermen in the Gulf of Thailand suspected to have been involved in the brutal murder of two British tourists early last week. Travelling in marine patrol boats, the policemen early Sunday collected DNA samples from suspicious fishermen in the middle of the sea. Their DNA will be compared with DNA samples collected from semen found inside the female victim and cigarette butts, which have been confirmed that they belong to three Asian men. Police now believe there were three Asian men involved in the murder of the 24-yaer-old British man and 23-year-old British women, whose bodies were found early last Monday on a beach of Koh Tao, a small island in the Gulf and off the coast of the southern province of Surat Thani. Two types of DNA were found inside the female victims while three types of DNA were found on three cigarette butts near the crime scene and only one type of DNA from the two sources were matched, making police to believe that one of the three men did not rape her. Meanwhile, Police General Somyos Phumphanmuang, the police chief-designate, the police chief-designate, attended a police briefing, held at a hospital on Koh Tao, during which he was briefed about progress of investigation on the case. Police General Somyos admitted that brutal murder had never occurred on Koh Tao of which majority of the residents depend heavily on tourism. He said because of the shocking incident, the people on the island have offered a reward of 100,000 baht while he would offer another 100,000 baht for any person who could provide any clue that could lead to the arrest of the murderers. Despite the gruesome incidents, more than 300 foreign tourists continue to travel to Koh Tao early Sunday. Some of them said they were impressed with the scenery of the island while the islanders are kind. They said they would visit the island again if they have an opportunity. (TNA)