Koh Tao suspect cleared, but life "ruined"

The son of a Koh Tao village chief says false accusations that he was involved in the murder of two British backpackers there have ruined his life.

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Lawyer of Warot Tuwichian shows reporters a CCTV image which shows his client was at his apartment in Bangkok's Rangsit area on the day the two British tourists were murdered on Koh Tao. (Photos by Somchai Poomlard)

Former Koh Tao murder 'suspect' confirms innocence

Son of island headman says false accusations ruined his life

Online reporters

The son of a Koh Tao village chief says false accusations that he was involved in the murder of two British backpackers there have ruined his life.

"I've been affected a lot," said Warot Tuwichian, a 22-year-old Bangkok University student. "I haven't attended classes since the incident occurred because people keep asking me if I am the killer. People on social media also harangued me."

Mr Warot, son of headman Woraphan Tuwichian, was named last week by police and media as a suspect in the Sept 15 killings of Britons Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, and his photo circulated on social media. Numerous reports said he "had fled Koh Tao" after the murders and 'was hiding in Bangkok" where police were searching for him.

It turns out Warot wasn't in Koh Tao at the time and he has time-stamped security-camera footage to prove it. Police officially cleared him of any involvement Sept 25.

"I am scared and now only my close friends understand me," Mr Warot, accompanied by his lawyer, said at a Tuesday press conference at Metropolitan Police Bureau where he came to affirm his innocence.

Members of the media surround young Warot Tuwichian at his press conference yesterday outside police headquarters.

Lawyer Attakorn On-arj submitted to police images taken from CCTV cameras showing Mr Warot was at his Bangkok apartment Sept 14-15, along with documents confirming that he showed up for an exam on Sept 15.

Mr Woraphan, who submitted to questioning by police in Surat Thani around the same time, also objected strenuously to his son being accused. He offered police a million baht if they could prove that Mr Warot was involved in the killings.

The headman and family patriarch, whose brother was also wrongly accused, has threatened legal action against media outlets that printed the accusations.

For our previous coverage which pretty much follows the case from the beginning, look here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/434177/koh-tao-murders-frustration-grows

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/433605/koh-tao-murders-still-big-news

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/432493/tourists-murdered-on-koh-tao

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