Prosecutors indict Koh Tao murder suspects

Prosecutors indict Koh Tao murder suspects

The Samui Provincial Court Thursday indicted two Myanmar men on five charges related to September’s slaying of two British backpackers on Koh Tao.

Tun Tun Htike (left) and May Thein, parents of Wai Phyo, suspect in a murder which took place in Koh Tao show their son's photo during an interview in Yangon on Thursday. (AFP photo)

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 21, were formally charged with raping Hannah Witheridge, 23, and the murder of Witheridge and David Miller, 24, on the southern resort's Sairee beach on Sept 15. The two men, who worked on the Surat Thani province island, also were indicted on illegally entering and remaining in the kingdom, and - in the case of Wai Phyo - stealing Miller's mobile phone and sunglasses.

Wanchai Rujanawong, spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General, said prosecutors on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province took the case to the court for the indictments of the two defendants. However, the defendants were not informed of the hearing in time and did not attend. They now will enter their pleas on Monday.

The indictment came a day after prosecutors finished reviewing the 900-page police report and deliberated on the final charges.

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo - previously identified as Win Zaw Htun - have been detained at Koh Samui Prison since Oct 4. Both men initially confessed to the murder and rape charges, but later recanted, claiming they were tortured and threatened with death if they did not admit to the crimes.

Thawatchai Siangjaew, chief of the Public Prosecution's Region 8 Office, said on Wednesday that prosecutors would leave the torture claims for the court to sort out.

Human rights activists and the Lawyers Council of Thailand have joined lawyers from the Myanmar embassy to provide legal assistance to the defendants. The National Human Rights Commission is trying to shed more light on the alleged torture claims.

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