Crime
Samui Provincial Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Samui Times Owner for Reporting False Information
SURAT THANI – Police claimed today to have wrapped up their investigation into the alleged rape case on Koh Tao island in Surat Thani involving a British backpacker with a conclusion that there was no evidence to substantiate the allegation.
Samui provincial court, meanwhile, approved issued warrants for the arrest of two Britons, the administrator and owner of on-line website Samui Time for allegedly posting false information about the alleged incident. Police claimed it undermined tourism business on the popular Koh Tao island.
British Consul-General to Thailand Paul Kaye (left) shakes hands with Tourist Police Deputy Commander Surachate Hakparn as they meet on Thursday (Aug 30). – Photo Tourist Police
Surat Thani provincial police commander Pol Maj-Gen Apichart Boonsrirote told a press conference that police have not found any evidence to prove that the alleged victim was raped on the night of June 25 as claimed after having questioned more than 200 witnesses who saw the British tourist or who were around the scene where she alleged to be raped. He said police have also checked footage from close-circuit TV cameras in the area.
Meanwhile, immigration police commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Sutthipong Wongpin ordered immigration officials to look for two Britons, Mrs Suzanne Buchanan and Anthony (last name unknown) administrator and owner of Samui Time on-line after the Surat Thani provincial court issued warrants for their arrest.
Police gather evidence during a fact-finding trip to Koh Tao on Thursday after an alleged rape of a British tourist on the island. – Photo by Supapong Chaolan
Immigration officials went to a house in Tambon Bo Pud on Koh Samui where the two Britons were reported to have stayed, but the house was no longer there.
They went to another house and met the Thai house owner, Mrs Somboon, who said she knew the couple but said they had moved out 3-4 years ago.
Police said Mrs Buchana was married to a Thai man and lived on Koh Samui where she launched a small tabloid newspaper called Samui Time which was sold in convenience stores. But about a year ago, the paper was closed down, leaving only its website of the same name.
In July last year, a group of business operators on Koh Tao lodged a complaint with police against Mrs Buchanan, accusing her of reporting a false murder case of a Belgian tourist on Koh Tao despite the fact that she was not murdered.
Source: Thai PBS, Bangkok Post
