The Koh Samui Provincial Court on Thursday approved a fifth period of detention for the Koh Tao murder suspects as prosecutors said they were waiting for more evidence plus the findings of an assault claim during police interrogation.
Koh Tao suspects Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin arrive at Koh Samui court Wednesday. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)
Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin's lawyer filed a petition protesting the prosecutors’ request to renew the detention order on the suspects, but the judge ruled it was in line with detention rules, which allow them to detain suspects for seven periods of 12-days for a total of 84 days.
Nakhon Chompuchart of the Lawyers Council of Thailand said additional interrogation of the suspects had been completed and his clients had undergone physical checks ordered by the court over their allegations that police officers and a police-appointed Rohingya interpreter had beaten and coerced them into confessing. Therefore, extension of their detention was not necessary.
“The prosecutors’ bid for the fifth round of detention likely violates the rights of the two suspects as they are only accused of being offenders by police officers,” Mr Nakhon said.
Theerawut Prahomhan, deputy chief public prosecutor of Surat Thani, argued that police had yet to finish their inquiries into Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin after the prosecutors ordered them to investigate the alleged assault during interrogation. Examination of material evidence was also not complete, including DNA taken from the body of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller.
Mr Theerawut said the case had drawn local and international attention and he wanted police to collect as much information as possible to seek indictment.
Koh Samui court judge Jirawat Lengnoi found the prosecutors’ request was in line with regulations and said police should be given more time on the alleged assault probe to completely wrap up their findings. He urged police to work quickly and carefully and not linger over the investigation.