Thai police welcomes British, Myanmar assistance in murder case on Koh Tao

BANGKOK, October 20 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Police has welcomed British and Myanmar assistance in an investigation into last month's murder of two Britons on Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand off Surat Thani Province in the Thai South. National Police Chief Police General Somyos Pumpanmuang announced the stance on Monday, stressing that the Royal Thai Police is willing to let British and Myanmar authorities assist in the investigation into the murder of two British tourists on Koh Tao, but their participation is to be subject to Thai laws. The national police chief made the remarks following reports that Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has agreed for British interrogators to work with Thai police in the case, in which two Myanmar migrant workers have been arrested and detained allegedly for killing the two Britons, 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge and 24-year-old David Miller, on Koh Tao on September 15. Both suspects first confessed to have committed the crime, but claiming later that they were assaulted and forced to confess by Thai police. Earlier, British authorities in London expressed their concerns over the investigation and proposed Britain's participation in the probe. The Lawyers Council of Thailand and the Myanmar Embassy to Thailand have, meanwhile, assigned legal experts to help the Myanmar suspects. The national police chief insisted that Thai police have investigated the case by the book and have not created any false evidence. Thawatchai Siangjaew, Executive Director of the Region 8 Public Prosecution, told journalists that public prosecutors on Koh Samui, also in Surat Thani, are, in the meantime, waiting for the result of an additional interrogation they have demanded from police. Thawatchai acknowledged that the local prosecutors have taken careful consideration in the case, as it has drawn local and international attention. (TNA)