Samui & nearby islands news & events

[Oytopikos]

KOH SAMUI, Thailand (Reuters) - A Thai court sentenced two Myanmar migrant workers to death on Thursday after convicting them of the 2014 murders of two British tourists on a holiday island in a case mired in controversy.

The battered bodies of backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on a beach on the island of Koh Tao in September 2014.

Following weeks of pressure to solve the case, police arrested Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun and later said the two had confessed to the crimes.

The verdict and sentence follow an investigation and trial that triggered allegations of police incompetence, mishandling of evidence and torture of the suspects. Both later retracted their confessions saying they had been made under duress.

The long-awaited verdicts came after 21 days of witness hearings in a trial that began in July and ended in October. Allegations by defence lawyers of police incompetence and evidence mishandling dominated the trial.

As is customary in Thailand, where trials have no jury, a judge delivered the verdict and sentence and said the DNA tests by investigators were carried out to accepted standards.

The mother of one of the defendants broke down in tears as the judge delivered the death penalty in the court on Samui island, close to Koh Tao.

The judge said there was no weight to the two men's claims that they had been tortured during interrogation by police.

The defence said the two men would appeal.

The brutality of the murders dented Thailand's image as a happy-go-lucky holiday paradise and raised serious questions about its treatment of migrant workers.

Police were widely accused of bungling the investigation, including failing to close off the island quickly and allowing potential suspects to escape.

Police said Witheridge was found bludgeoned to death and had been raped. Miller also suffered blows to his head.

A debate over DNA samples that police say link the two suspects to Witheridge's body has been at the heart of the trial.

Defence lawyers had asked to retest crucial DNA samples taken from the bodies but authorities issued conflicting statements on DNA evidence and, at one point, said that it had been used up.

No independent re-testing of DNA evidence has been done in the case.

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/myanmar-men-sentenced-to-death-for-murder-of-british-backpackers-in-thailand/41858554

reuters_tickers

[thailandgr]

SAMUI — A Croatian tourist fell down to his death from the cliff edge next to a waterfall last night.

The man was identified as Tomislav Laco, 32. Police said they entered Thailand with his wife Danie Magan on Dec. 30 for their honeymoon, and visited Khun Si waterfall on Samui island yesterday afternoon.

Magan, 26, told police via an interpreter that she and her husband were at the eighth stage of the waterfall, at a height of around 25 meters, when the man walked around to explore the area by himself.

Magan said that after a while she heard the sound of something falling and hitting the rocks. She spotted her husband’s body at the bottom so she sought help from nearby residents.

Police Capt. Sirachat Kamunee said  police officers and rescue teams had to trek through thick jungles and abseil down to locate the body.

Laco was found dead at the scene. His death was due to a fatal head wound and injuries to his body, according to Sirachat. He added that the body has been sent for an examination at Koh Samui hospital, and the Croatian Embassy has been informed about the man’s death.

Tourism officials promised to have warning signs installed at several dangerous attractions soon, Sirachat said.

[Oytopikos]

Islander dies whilst on Holiday in Thailand
 
SURAT THANI:-- An Island man has tragically died whilst on a ‘holiday of a lifetime’ in Thailand just days after celebrating the New Year.
 
Luke Miller, 27, flew out to Thailand from Heathrow Airport for 5 weeks with a friend on 22nd December, but sadly the Islander died whilst on the Island of Koh Tao with 3 friends – the same Island where British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered.
 
The full circumstances surrounding the death are currently unknown, however the Foreign Office have confirmed to Island Echo that local authorities are investigating the death.
 

[Oytopikos]

SURAT THANI: -- A seven year old Swiss boy has died after being electrocuted by an exposed power cable as he played on a beach in Maenam, Koh Samui.

The boy, who had been staying on the island with his parents and younger sister, was playing in the sand when he came into contact with the buried power line.

Swiss news site 20min.ch reports the incident happened on February 14th.

Despite receiving CPR at the scene, the boy tragically died the next day in hospital. The family have since returned to Switzerland and have requested privacy.

Swiss media reports there have been a number of incidents on the island related to poorly laid power cables.

Source: 20min.ch

[Oytopikos]

KOH SAMUI: -- On Tuesday 8th March at 5.20 am a 62 year old Thai lady was shot on her way back home from a market in Samui. Police found 8 9mm shell casings at the scene.

The shooting is believed to be part of a long running family dispute. The police are continuing with their investigations in her death and according to news reports the deaths of other members of her family.

Source: News Ch7

[Oytopikos]

A 23 year old Russian girl has gone missing from Koh Tao. Valentina Novozhyonova was staying at the Koh Tao Hostel. It is believed she was planning to leave Koh Tao and go to Koh Samui, she has not been seen or heard from since February 15th. Reports on a Facebook appeal say that the local police found her belongings in her room, they have now taken her phone and passport.

Valentina Novozhyonova is 170cm tall, has light brown hair and tattoo in the shape of the letter V on her wrist. If you have any information as to her whereabouts please contact the local police 077-456098.


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[thailandgr]