Thai police arrest 2 Myanmar men for raping and murdering British tourist

The two Burmese men raped and murdered two British tourists visiting the southern Thai island of Koh Tao last month.

AFP quoted Thai police on October 3 as saying that Win, 21, and Saw, 23, had come to work illegally in Thailand and when arrested, they confessed to killing David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23. Their bodies were discovered on September 15 on the island.

Thai police said the two men could face the death penalty for murder. They are also believed to have raped Witheridge, as their DNA matched that taken from her body.

Two Myanmar people were taken to Koh Tao island to reconstruct the scene (Photo: Reuters)

“The two Myanmar men have been charged with murder (of both Britons), gang rape (of Ms Witheridge) and theft,” said Koh Phangan Police Chief Prachum Ruangthong.

In addition to the two Myanmar people mentioned above, Thai police on October 2 also arrested another Myanmar person on suspicion of being involved in this incident.

However, this person was later identified as a witness and is currently under police protection.

Then, on October 3, Thai investigators escorted two Mynamr men to Koh Tao island to reconstruct the crime scene.

Hundreds of curious onlookers flocked to watch as the two men, handcuffed, wearing bulletproof vests and white helmets, walked along the beach where the British victims were murdered, describing the incident with dozens of police officers surrounding them.

The breakthrough in the investigation comes after Thai authorities were criticised by the British press for deliberately covering up the case.

Thai officials have dismissed concerns that the two men were scapegoats following pressure from the British press.

“I want to confirm that we are not arresting them to be used as scapegoats because we have DNA evidence taken from the victims,” Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ochan said on October 3.

Thai police have previously taken DNA samples from hundreds of people on Koh Tao island and questioned dozens of others, including friends of the two victims.

Thai police have come under pressure to solve the case after being criticised for allegedly following false leads and failing to lock down the island hours after the killing.

Meanwhile, journalists were free to roam the scene and information was released in abundance and unverified until ordered by the country's police officials.

The murder of these two British people also damaged the image of Thai tourism in the eyes of international friends, especially when the tourist season is approaching, forcing Thai officials to find every way to reassure tourists.

Koh Tao Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul expressed relief after police arrested the two men and pledged to set up security measures on the island, including requiring all foreign workers to declare themselves to authorities and setting up more surveillance cameras on major roads./.

According to VOV