Koh Tao residents pool THB50,000 for murder tips

ABOVE: Koh Tao residents held a religious ceremony to offer prayers for the dead on Thursday, Sept. 18. Photo: AFP

Residents of Koh Tao have pooled their funds into a reward for clues about the killers of two British tourists, an official said Friday, as police hunted for fresh leads.

The search for suspects continued on the southern diving island after David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were found naked and beaten to death near a beachside bungalow early Monday.

The police investigation appeared to have stalled after post-mortem examinations of the victims’ bodies in Bangkok failed to find DNA links to key suspects questioned so far.

“At this point we offer 50,000 baht for anyone who can provide clues which lead to the arrest of a suspect,” Koh Tao mayor Chaiyan Turasakul told AFP. “The money comes from donations from the people of Koh Tao.”

The murders have rocked the normally laid-back island and landed a new blow to Thailand’s image as a tourist haven, battered by months of political protests that ended in May’s army coup.

Several dozen Koh Tao residents held a religious ceremony to offer prayers for the dead on Thursday, Chaiyan said, with many more assisting police in the search.

On Friday regional police commander Panya Maman said around 160 officers were hunting for clues on the small island, which neighbours the more-visited Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand.

“I have deployed police in nearby islands as well as on the mainland,” he said.

Story: AFP



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