PHUKET: The case against two Burmese charged with the murders and rape of two British tourists will proceed in court as early as Wednesday, the chief investigating officer, Major General Paween Pongsirin, said last night.
As a check that all the relevant material had been gathered, the major general said that yesterday he questioned ''more than 10 police'' who had been involved in the case.
''I am satisfied the case is ready to proceed. Wednesday's hearing will give the various interested parties the opportunity to hear for themselves what we have learned,'' Major General Paween said.
The British and Burmese embassies and migrant worker groups are known to be concerned about aspects of the investigation after the bodies of Britons Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Thailand's Koh Tao on September 15.
Major General Paween took charge of the case last Wednesday and within days arrested two Burmese bar workers, Win and Zaw Rim, both aged 21.
''This Wednesday's preliminary hearing will give the basics of the case an airing so that people can know it is based on facts, not fiction.'' he said.
Police had thrown many special units at different aspects of the case and, without someone in a position to review and present the information, confusion had resulted.
''Extensive analysis on social media has also not helped,'' he said, ''with officers as a result of the high exposure exploring some theories that had no substance.
''The prosecutor on Koh Samui has agreed to take the case to court on Wednesday so everyone can gain a clear picture of where the case stands.''
Both embassies and at least one migrant rights groups have sent representatives to Koh Tao following claims that other Burmese workers on the holiday island were abused by police as they attempted to extract information about murders suspects.
With more than 200 officers involved, there were times when aspects of the case were clouded in confusion.
''We accept that the case could have been better presented with a daily briefings spokesperson and a single analysis,'' the major general said.
Major General Paween was called in last week to oversee the Koh Tao murders while working on Phuket as the head of a task force exposing intimidation and extortion among the holiday island's taxi drivers.
He had also just announced cases against several sunbed business operators who allegedly were paid millions of baht by resorts for exclusive use of their recliners and umbrellas on the island's public beaches.
As a check that all the relevant material had been gathered, the major general said that yesterday he questioned ''more than 10 police'' who had been involved in the case.
''I am satisfied the case is ready to proceed. Wednesday's hearing will give the various interested parties the opportunity to hear for themselves what we have learned,'' Major General Paween said.
The British and Burmese embassies and migrant worker groups are known to be concerned about aspects of the investigation after the bodies of Britons Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Thailand's Koh Tao on September 15.
Major General Paween took charge of the case last Wednesday and within days arrested two Burmese bar workers, Win and Zaw Rim, both aged 21.
''This Wednesday's preliminary hearing will give the basics of the case an airing so that people can know it is based on facts, not fiction.'' he said.
Police had thrown many special units at different aspects of the case and, without someone in a position to review and present the information, confusion had resulted.
''Extensive analysis on social media has also not helped,'' he said, ''with officers as a result of the high exposure exploring some theories that had no substance.
''The prosecutor on Koh Samui has agreed to take the case to court on Wednesday so everyone can gain a clear picture of where the case stands.''
Both embassies and at least one migrant rights groups have sent representatives to Koh Tao following claims that other Burmese workers on the holiday island were abused by police as they attempted to extract information about murders suspects.
With more than 200 officers involved, there were times when aspects of the case were clouded in confusion.
''We accept that the case could have been better presented with a daily briefings spokesperson and a single analysis,'' the major general said.
Major General Paween was called in last week to oversee the Koh Tao murders while working on Phuket as the head of a task force exposing intimidation and extortion among the holiday island's taxi drivers.
He had also just announced cases against several sunbed business operators who allegedly were paid millions of baht by resorts for exclusive use of their recliners and umbrellas on the island's public beaches.
Oh how fast those wheels of justice turn when your poor.......
Posted by Arun Muruga on October 6, 2014 12:43