PM: British police to observe, not investigate

19 ตุลาคม 2557

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has denied media reports that he will allow British police to participate in the investigation into the murder of two UK tourists on Koh Tao last month.

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PM denies UK role in murder case

Here to observe, not investigate

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Contrary to British media reports, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said this meeting with British prime minister David Cameron led only to an agreement that British police would observe, not investigate. Photo via @MFAThai

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has denied media reports that he will allow British police to participate in the investigation into the murder of two UK tourists on Koh Tao last month.

Speaking at Suvarnabhumi airport after returning from the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Milan, Gen Prayut said the British government will send a team of observers to follow progress in the investigation into the murders.

Media including the BBC and the Telegraph reported yesterday that British investigators will arrive in Thailand to help with the case after Gen Prayut met Prime Minister David Cameron at the Asem summit.

The reports said the agreement was made after Mr Cameron managed to persuade Gen Prayut to allow British police to help with the investigation.

Gen Prayut said yesterday he discussed the murder case with Mr Cameron during the Asem meeting.

"I sat near the British Prime Minister. He asked me to take care of the Koh Tao case. I answered his questions and he was satisfied," he said.

According to Gen Prayut, Mr Cameron told him that his government had no problem with the Thai judicial process, although British people who follow media reports had questions.

"They will send observers. Currently, there are also some observers from the British embassy," Gen Prayut said.

His British counterpart asked him to prevent similar tragedies because Britons loved to visit Thailand, Gen Prayut said.

Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun were charged with the murder of David Miller, 24, and the rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge, 23, after their bodies were found on Koh Tao on Sept 15.

Thai police have said the two suspects confessed to the crime and their DNA matched samples taken from Witheridge's body, but there have been accusations that the men were tortured — something Thailand strongly denies.