3 ‘witnesses’ to testify in Koh Tao case
Lawyers Council will attend court hearing
Sirinya wattanasukchai
Lawyers from the Lawyers Council of Thailand will accompany three potential witnesses from Myanmar as they testify in the Koh Tao murder case in a court in Samui today, human rights advocate Surapong Kongchantuk said.
It is unclear whether the two accused Myanmar workers, Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin, will appear at the hearing.
If they are, it would be the first time they are represented by lawyers during official questioning.
Win and Zaw are charged with the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, who were found dead on Koh Tao’s Sai Ree beach in the early hours of Sept 15.
In addition to Maung Maung, a roommate of the suspects who says he did not see the killings,two other Myanmar nationals, Ren Ren and Nee Ong, have been called to give depositions today, said Mr. Surapong, who is chairman of the Lawyers Council of Thailand’s human rights subcommittee on ethnic minorities.
He did not say how Ren and Nee were connected to the case. It is unclear where they are being held, but they are known not to be permanent residents.
He said the authorities might further question Win and Zaw to make up for shortcomings noted by prosecutors in the 300-page investigation report.
Mr. Surapong said the council yesterday decided to assign two lawyers, working pro bono, to aid a human rights network assisting the witnesses.
So far questioning of the suspects and witnesses have been done without a lawyer and a proper interpreter present.
One high-ranking police officer told the media the Myanmar nationals didn’t ask for a lawyer.
“It’s the police’s duty to inform the Myanmar nationals that they have the right to request a lawyer,” Mr. Surapong said.
They can also request an interpreter who is neutral and unaffiliated with the police.
He claims the authorities failed to inform them of those rights.
Mr. Surapong said a team of lawyers would later be assigned to the case. He didn't give the lawyers’ names.
They plan to help the suspects and witnesses navigate the legal process, including informing them how to confess if they are guilty and how to defend themselves if they are innocent.
The lawyers also intend to check into the physical condition of the suspects amid reports they are showing signs of stress.
They will also attempt to determine whether Win and Zaw were tortured to confess, as the rights group Amnesty International has claimed.
But this could only happen if the authorities allowed the lawyers to examine them, he said. Mr. Surapong said defending the suspects, which has attracted local and international scrutiny, requires a large team of lawyers.
The case has dented relations between Thailand, Myanmar and Britain, and harmed Thailand’s reputation as a tourism destination. It has also raised questions about Thailand’s judicial process, Mr. Surapong said.
3 ‘witnesses’ to testify in Koh Tao case
Lawyers Council will attend court hearing
Sirinya wattanasukchai
Lawyers from the Lawyers Council of Thailand will accompany three potential witnesses from Myanmar as they testify in the Koh Tao murder case in a court in Samui today, human rights advocate Surapong Kongchantuk said.
It is unclear whether the two accused Myanmar workers, Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin, will appear at the hearing.
If they are, it would be the first time they are represented by lawyers during official questioning.
Win and Zaw are charged with the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, who were found dead on Koh Tao’s Sai Ree beach in the early hours of Sept 15.
In addition to Maung Maung, a roommate of the suspects who says he did not see the killings,two other Myanmar nationals, Ren Ren and Nee Ong, have been called to give depositions today, said Mr. Surapong, who is chairman of the Lawyers Council of Thailand’s human rights subcommittee on ethnic minorities.
He did not say how Ren and Nee were connected to the case. It is unclear where they are being held, but they are known not to be permanent residents.
He said the authorities might further question Win and Zaw to make up for shortcomings noted by prosecutors in the 300-page investigation report.
Mr. Surapong said the council yesterday decided to assign two lawyers, working pro bono, to aid a human rights network assisting the witnesses.
So far questioning of the suspects and witnesses have been done without a lawyer and a proper interpreter present.
One high-ranking police officer told the media the Myanmar nationals didn’t ask for a lawyer.
“It’s the police’s duty to inform the Myanmar nationals that they have the right to request a lawyer,” Mr. Surapong said.
They can also request an interpreter who is neutral and unaffiliated with the police.
He claims the authorities failed to inform them of those rights.
Mr. Surapong said a team of lawyers would later be assigned to the case. He didn't give the lawyers’ names.
They plan to help the suspects and witnesses navigate the legal process, including informing them how to confess if they are guilty and how to defend themselves if they are innocent.
The lawyers also intend to check into the physical condition of the suspects amid reports they are showing signs of stress.
They will also attempt to determine whether Win and Zaw were tortured to confess, as the rights group Amnesty International has claimed.
But this could only happen if the authorities allowed the lawyers to examine them, he said. Mr. Surapong said defending the suspects, which has attracted local and international scrutiny, requires a large team of lawyers.
The case has dented relations between Thailand, Myanmar and Britain, and harmed Thailand’s reputation as a tourism destination. It has also raised questions about Thailand’s judicial process, Mr. Surapong said.
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