DNA tests for headman's son

SUWANNEE BANDISAK, ANAPAT DEECHUAY, MONGKHON KHOMPRAD THE NATION October 30, 2014 1:00 am

Police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said yesterday that once the DNA test is complete, National Police chief General Somyot Poompanmoung, British Ambas-sador Mark Kent as well as representatives from the Institute of Forensic Medicine, would hold a press conference on the case.

"The DNA test will be conducted at 10am on October 30 [today]," Prawut said.

Mid last month, two British tourists were brutally murdered on Koh Tao off Surat Thani province. The murders made headlines both locally and internationally.

Police have arrested two Myanmar workers for the crimes, citing DNA matches and their confession. However, the workers are calling for help saying they were forced into confessing to crimes they did not commit.

Speculation on social-media, meanwhile, has been pointing the finger at 22-year-old university student Warot Tuwichien. He is the son of Woraphan Tuwichien, the village head of Moo 1 of Tambon Koh Tao and the owner of a bar on the island.

"I am ready to have my son undergo the DNA test to prove his innocence. It's also for the sake of the nation," Woraphan said yesterday. Both Myanmar and British embassies have now stepped in to look into the case as it involves citizens from their countries.

Britain has also dispatched members of its police force to Thailand to work on the case.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said yesterday that the British team was satisfied with the investigation on the Thai side. "It's better than the team had expected," Prayut said.

In a related development, the Myanmar ambassador to Thailand escorted the parents of the two Myanmar suspects to the Lawyers' Council of Thailand yesterday, where the parents officially asked for help.

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DNA tests for headman's son