Must Read Authorities fire back over Koh Tao ‘Death Island’ label

[4MyEgo]

See below

[4MyEgo]

4 hours ago, tukkytuktuk said:

 

 

 

http://wikitravel.org/en/Ko_Tao

Extracts from your link, sounds like your typical Thai island.

 

Note on safety: there is an ongoing Murder trial into two British tourists killed in 2014. This has uncovered the significant issues of drugs, police corruption, and mafia-style families which run the island. In addition several tourists have drowned while swimming in the last few years.

 

Be aware that an increasing number of rental shops are charging large amounts of money for non-existent scratches on bikes when returning them, notably the shop next to 7-11 in Sairee Village (Save Way travel. Make sure you note down and photograph all scratches and dents before you rent a bike from anyone. A good option is to hire a bike from your bungalow/resort.

 

Avoid

 

• Owen Bike which has several locations on Ko Tao such as one on Sairee Beach. You must give them a passport as a deposit, and even though you may take photos and return the bike in perfect condition, the lady will find small scratches and demand an exorbitant amount.
• Also avoid the overweight lady with a large mole on her nose who has a shop joining the petrol station in Sairee Beach (across from the 7-11). She runs the same scam, as sadly many other shops do.
• Koryan Shop on a road from the pier to the main road. They will rob thousands of baht for smallest scratch. The police does not help in such situations. They only suggest, that the only way to avoid the payment is to "lose" your passport and report it in Bangkok on a way home. There you will pay only 1000baht for a paper to get into plane.
• CJ Guesthouse & Supermarket 13/1 Moo 1, Had Sairee Beach, situated on the same street as New Way Divers. They will not issue receipts if you do not ask, and later demand that you have not paid the cumulative rental fee when you return the bike. Without a receipt, it will be frustrating and difficult to argue your case. Do not trust the husband-and-wife team.

Sometimes bike rentals in the island claim a high amount for a unexisting scratch so be really carefull. They will all look like good guys but they will try to claim your money. Bing in the middle of Sairee beach seems to be trustworthy. If you do get in such trouble the Ko Tao the police are helpful. A friendly police officer named Chet who speaks very good English who might encourage you to file a report, saying that this happens several times a day on Ko Tao. If you don't file a report, the police can help you negotiate a better fine. There is only 6 police officers in an island who receives a lot of tourists per day, If you do file a report, contact your embassy and eventually the company will have to release your passport because it doesn't belong to you but to your government.

INSIST on a receipt when you have paid the rental fee, or for every subsequent payment per rental day. Do not trust the shops to write accurate information in their own books. If you do not want to provide your passport as a deposit, some shops will ask for a amount as a one-off deposit instead. Again, take as many detailed photos as you can on the condition of the bikes.

 

Security

Be also aware of the safety of your hotel room. There are many reports of stolen money especially in the resorts on Sairee Beach. Normally the thieves, sometimes even hotel staff, sneak into the room while you are out diving and take your cash from your wallet or from your bags.

Keep your valuables out of sight wherever you are. Openly displaying all your gadgets overtly is not a good idea. Tourists have been robbed after thieves have followed them to learn where the items are being kept.

 

Watch out for the gas stations, they like to let the meter start at more than zero. The red gas station on the road that goes up to the turtle is known for this.

Watch out for dive instructors teaching you the Nitrox-course without telling you that they charge for it when you check out. Ban´s is known for this.

[JLCrab]

7 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

Good luck to those who are planning to file criminal defamation charges against The Samui Times.  <snip> there would be no way of enforcing a judgement.     

As discussed on here by myself and others, the remedy once SamuiTimes owners defaulted on the civil or criminal case would be most likely to block the domain on the local ISPs and, since the bulk of advertising on SamuTimes is local, that would effectively shut off the bulk of her revenue. 

[DiscoDan]

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

In reality they never had a "best chance of a fair hearing" and even if they do get a hearing, then again it won't be fair.

 

They have no chance of succeeding now that the "decision" has been made and backed by people in power because of a "loss of face" not only for them, but for the Thai country as a whole.

 

There are so many things which have never been explained, or make any sense, and these things would mean that the case would have been thrown out of court in a normal country/society, but that's not how things work in Thailand.

 

As soon as the case was "settled" on the supposed DNA match from the semen sample which was "all used up" and nothing provided as proof other than a piece of paper which said that the DNA matched (which is why the defence never challenged that, because it was a waste of time) then the fate of the two Burmese was sealed.

 

The whole thing reeks of a set up, and something which has always puzzled me and I've never found an answer to, was how poor David had around eight small neat puncture marks in his head, so neat and precise as to be just about impossible to have been caused by the hoe produced as evidence?

 

Having said that, those of us who have lived here for a few years know full well how power, money and corruption rule the country, so although we may despair for the lives of the two Burmese boys, there's nothing we can do about it.

They signed power of attorney over to the Burmese government they were in charge.

 

They had 7 lawyers 2million baht plus the donations from the Burmese government, 

 

SIHRG observing the trial

 

The words media almost exclusively getting all it's news from the defence.

 

Yeah of course they didn't have a chance.

 

If it's true and the appeal has been dropped what is the excuse going to be ?

 

You can't blame that on the other side but I am sure people will have a good try.

[007cableguy]

 
Surat Thani police chief Apichart said investigation into all the deaths – Briton Nick Pearson, 25 (January 1, 2014), French Dimitri Povese, 24 (January 1, 2015), British Christina Annesley, 23 (January 21, 2015), British Luke Miller, 26 (January 9) – were already concluded as not being related to crime and their families had agreed with the conclusion.

I'm pretty sure that Nick Pearson and Luke Miller's families did not agree with the conclusion!!, In fact they where very outspoken that they thought it was murder in both cases Mr Police chief!!
 

[owl sees all]

21 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

Good luck to those who are planning to file criminal defamation charges against The Samui Times.  The publisher, editor and owner, Suzanne Buchanan, moved back to the UK last year and the website is now hosted and operated from there.

Well if the worst comes to the worst and you have to shut up shop; go down fighting!!!!! Plenty of stuff to get your teeth into.

[rockingrobin]

10 minutes ago, JLCrab said:

As discussed on here by myself and others, the remedy once SamuiTimes owners defaulted on the civil or criminal case would be most likely to block the domain on the local ISPs and, since the bulk of advertising on SamuTimes is local, that would effectively shut off the bulk of her revenue. 

Would that not be self defeating. 

Assuming that business advertise with ST do so because they believe its beneficial to themselves. 

[Dogmatix]

4 minutes ago, rockingrobin said:

Would that not be self defeating. 

Assuming that business advertise with ST do so because they believe its beneficial to themselves. 

 

Yes, they could block it and destroy the advertising revenue but that wouldn't stop the owner publishing it or saying what she likes.  She seems to be a woman with a mission and doesn't give the impression of needing the money from it.  It also wouldn't stop people from reading it abroad or in Thailand via VPNs.  They are mainly concerned about their reputation overseas and Samui Times can have an impact on foreign tourists' decisions to visit the islands.   As in the Phuketwan case, the best remedy they have is to keep silent and avoid drawing attention to it, as in the Streisand effect.  Interesting they have no plans to sue publications like the Guardian or the Independent which have run similar but much better written stories on the Death Island theme.  Their readerships and influence are far greater than Samui Times.  Same thing happened in the Phuketwan case where they went after the locally based small fry but avoided suing Reuters which actually published the original story about the Navy's alleged abuse of Rohingyas.  The case against Phuketwan, which they lost anyway, ensured that vast numbers of people read the story about the Navy's alleged brutally, whereas it would otherwise have been largely ignored.             

[Dogmatix]

16 minutes ago, 007cableguy said:

 
Surat Thani police chief Apichart said investigation into all the deaths – Briton Nick Pearson, 25 (January 1, 2014), French Dimitri Povese, 24 (January 1, 2015), British Christina Annesley, 23 (January 21, 2015), British Luke Miller, 26 (January 9) – were already concluded as not being related to crime and their families had agreed with the conclusion.

I'm pretty sure that Nick Pearson and Luke Miller's families did not agree with the conclusion!!, In fact they where very outspoken that they thought it was murder in both cases Mr Police chief!!
 
 

 

Absolutely correct.  In addition, while David Miller's family wholeheartedly accepted the police version of their loved one's murder, in spite of the gaping holes in it, Hannah Witheridge's sister make clear that she did not accept the same version of Hannah's death.  She also complained that police had allegedly tricked them into coming to police HQ for more information on the case, when they had actually just set up a press conference to allow the media, allegedly in exchange for cash, to photograph the stunned and grieving family clinging together on a sofa wondering what the hell was going on.  The police chief at the time also very distastefully threatened a criminal defamation case against Hannah's sister, even though he knew that she was highly unlikely to ever return to Thailand under any circumstances, let alone to be the defendant in a libel action brought by the police chief.   

[xylophone]

26 minutes ago, DiscoDan said:

They signed power of attorney over to the Burmese government they were in charge.

 

They had 7 lawyers 2million baht plus the donations from the Burmese government, 

 

SIHRG observing the trial

 

The words media almost exclusively getting all it's news from the defence.

 

Yeah of course they didn't have a chance.

 

If it's true and the appeal has been dropped what is the excuse going to be ?

 

You can't blame that on the other side but I am sure people will have a good try.

No amount of support or money from anybody can change the minds of a corrupt authority/country, especially when it comes from the top because the decision had already been made and that's why the original police chief was taken off the case.

 

The outcome of the trial was decided before it ever got underway and because of that any appeal will fail yet again. If they don't appeal it will be because of this.

[Khun Han]

24 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

47 minutes ago, 007cableguy said:

 
Surat Thani police chief Apichart said investigation into all the deaths – Briton Nick Pearson, 25 (January 1, 2014), French Dimitri Povese, 24 (January 1, 2015), British Christina Annesley, 23 (January 21, 2015), British Luke Miller, 26 (January 9) – were already concluded as not being related to crime and their families had agreed with the conclusion.

I'm pretty sure that Nick Pearson and Luke Miller's families did not agree with the conclusion!!, In fact they where very outspoken that they thought it was murder in both cases Mr Police chief!!
 
 

 

Absolutely correct.  In addition, while David Miller's family wholeheartedly accepted the police version of their loved one's murder, in spite of the gaping holes in it, Hannah Witheridge's sister make clear that she did not accept the same version of Hannah's death.  She also complained that police had allegedly tricked them into coming to police HQ for more information on the case, when they had actually just set up a press conference to allow the media, allegedly in exchange for cash, to photograph the stunned and grieving family clinging together on a sofa wondering what the hell was going on.  The police chief at the time also very distastefully threatened a criminal defamation case against Hannah's sister, even though he knew that she was highly unlikely to ever return to Thailand under any circumstances, let alone to be the defendant in a libel action brought by the police chief.   

 

Christina Annesley's parents didn't agree with the Thai authorities' conclusion either, so that's a pretty big porkie from the Surat Thani police chief.

[JLCrab]

I have no idea what the SamuTimes owners might do with no local readership or local advertising. But its logo calls itself SAMUI's ONLINE NEWSPAPER but I guess it would no longer be much of that.

[newcomer71]

Oh yes. Not crime related and they solved it...

Maybe they should think THAT THEY ARE the ones who people don't trust and believe?

Or they think everyone must get their meal as RTP serves it?

Crooks, the whole bunch of them.

[007cableguy]

Good to see that their businesses are hurting over the bad press! , Hopefully they will see sense and get the island cleaned of these corrupt filth!

[Dave67]

1 hour ago, bamukloy said:

Well there is a warning report on FB about all this.

 

Has many many replies all of summed up by:
-Ridiculous sensationalism
-i went there an im ok

Many even say:
-if you do stupid things bad stuff happens.

 

There are so many replies that supporting the island you must actually search very hard to see anything negative.

 

Id say 1 post in 50 will say something bad

 

Id say many know already but for sure it not stop them going there again even some there at the time of the double murders

 

So the truth has been well and truly covered up then . I though the same as them when I was a novice in Phuket in1998. A little bit vexing when authorities are conspiring to mislead people about what goes on

[DiscoDan]

31 minutes ago, xylophone said:

No amount of support or money from anybody can change the minds of a corrupt authority/country, especially when it comes from the top because the decision had already been made and that's why the original police chief was taken off the case.

 

The outcome of the trial was decided before it ever got underway and because of that any appeal will fail yet again. If they don't appeal it will be because of this.

No but SIHRG could of written in their report the allegations you make but they didn't.

 

Failed to retest dna 

 

Focused on the  hoe that wasn't even part of the prosecution's case

 

Failed to get an order from the judge for the dna documentaion.

 

Failed to call Jane Taupin.

 

Failed to use another Brit dna expert they had at the beginning.

 

Failed to submit crime reports from Mike Moulden.

 

Also they never reported to the media about the new dna machine the police had that could analyse samples in a few hours.

 

As a said nearly all reporting came throughout the defence and you fell for it hook line and sinker along with many others.

 

 

[JLCrab]

If I were the PR flak for the SuratThani Governor (some may think I am anyway) dealing with what some say will be expected onslaught from the international press, this is what I might say.

There were 2 brutal murders on Koh Tao in SEP 2014. Since that time there have been 6 deaths of foreign Tourists on Koh Tao none of which can be readily explained as foul play and certainly not brutal murders.

We have arrested and convicted the 2 we believe responsible for the SEP 2014 brutal murders and since that time THERE HAVE BEEN NO BRUTAL MURDERS ON KOH TAO.

Infer from that as you so choose.

[Dogmatix]

10 minutes ago, JLCrab said:

If I were the PR flak for the SuratThani Governor (some may think I am anyway) dealing with what some say will be expected onslaught from the international press, this is what I might say.

There were 2 brutal murders on Koh Tao in SEP 2014. Since that time there have been 6 deaths of foreign Tourists on Koh Tao none of which can be readily explained as foul play and certainly not brutal murders.

We have arrested and convicted the 2 we believe responsible for the SEP 2014 brutal murders and since that time THERE HAVE BEEN NO BRUTAL MURDERS ON KOH TAO.

Infer from that as you so choose.

 

There must have been a lot more than 6 deaths of foreign tourists since then.  They die all the time on motor cycles but don't make headlines.      

[owl sees all]

.

[JLCrab]

3 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

 

There must have been a lot more than 6 deaths of foreign tourists since then.  They die all the time on motor cycles but don't make headlines.      

[DiscoDan]

They are now saying news about appeal is false going to file appeal on the 20/7.

[masuk]

7 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I wonder if this bullshit being offered up is connected to the recent headline stories in the UK papers ? It is about time they stopped with the denials, that no one believes and start a very serious and thorough investigation as to what and who is behind all the deaths. By now it is common knowledge that the island is mafia controlled and people there know, but are too scared to talk about it.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3953216/koh-tao-death-island-mystery-brit-mafia-threatened-hang-frame-murder-tourist/

Another UK newspaper had a similar article.  Sent to me from Korea.

[JLCrab]

So the major breakthrough as reported in the SUN article linked above is that a freelancer for the Independent has spoken off the record with some Koh Tao residents:

 

"But a disturbing claim has now emerged that police on the island are controlled by a powerful criminal family.

 

"Locals speaking on condition of anonymity revealed the gang has a vice-like grip over the island, where people are afraid to speak out, according to the Independent.":

 

-- So with the UK Press it seems to be I'll quote you if you'll quote me.

[spidermike007]

Dark Tao is one of the most dangerous places in all of SE Asia. That is due to the authorities refusing to go after the serial killer, due to his family being too rich, and completely above the law. So, this Surat Thani Governor Uanchai, is making a big deal, since he is losing a fortune on his Tao franchise. He is upset, due to the fact that bookings are way down. And he is showing himself to be a tremendous fool, by making a big deal about the Samui Times articles. All of those articles are completely true. Sometimes the truth stings. And most Thais have an incredibly hard time dealing with truth, and have a total inability to look within for the source of the problem. 

 

Turns out the owner of the Samui Times has gone overseas, to avoid the authorities, and this potential vendetta. Hope they never find them.

[wirat69]

Personally I don't care how they died, they died. Death is in the air!!!

[manhood]

They are all using these junta articles to fight against the ones who try and start to find the truth!

And nobody ever in the world will have any trust on that what is called evedence in Thailand.

 

The foreign magazines and reporters should look more after it and well they can't act against them with any of these stupid "law articles" that are done to support the unfaith and untruth and all the people involved into it!

 

But yes, Thailand is not that important to report too much about this!

So they can keep ongoing with their bleached untruth!

 

 

 

[JLCrab]

I have read most of the articles written by the Samui Times about the deaths of Nick Pearson and Luke Miller. I do not believe they have ever offered any but the most tangential reason why anyone would want to kill either of them. And a lot of the quotes from persons offering a reason why they were murdered is that "He would never do that" to any other explanation.

The BBC report on the Luke Miller inquest noted that he lost his motorbike key in the Sunset Bar swimming pool a few days before and had to pay 5000 baht penalty. So maybe he went back that night to see if he could find the key. I don't believe that suggestion was ever in the SamuiTimes, only that he lost his key. Not that he lost his key in the pool.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-40281095

http://www.samuitimes.com/the-death-of-luke-miller-koh-tao-one-year-on/

So while a post above says that everything in the SamuiTimes is true they maybe selectively leave out something that doesn't support their story as posted.

[wvavin]

Is there a better name than DEATH ISLAND after so many tourists have mysteriously died on this island? What is there to sue where these idiots are not doing anything at all?

[26vinny]

I have not been to thailand in  years because of DEATH ISLAND  WHEN WILL THAILAND LEARN AND RID THIS SCUM RUNNING THIS ISLAND and my house is rotting in Surin and until the authority's get a grip i will never go back  to that country the  poor  B2 are nothing but scapegoats so while the real murders are out there and it will continue to happen i tell everybody i know and social media to avoid the country like the plague, shame really beautiful country  beautiful people corruption  is so easily seen by educated people and not scared by the people they cannot control it will always be seen this way until the burmese pair are acquitted and the real perpetrators are prosecuted and that is just 1 case amongst many my next door neighbour fines me daily for playing felang music daily when i go home to my house  in Surin guess what he is a thai policeman does not like the noise JOKE the noisiest country in the world the wild wild west thats thailand no capitols are used for the country because its not worth even grammer

   

[joecoolfrog]

7 hours ago, DiscoDan said:

The other paper is saying the defense team of the B2 failed to lodge an appeal to the supreme court  and the case is now closed, anyone else heard this ?

You must be delighted !