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Taiwanese Tourist Found Dead in Bangkok Hotel, Police Suspect Murder

Bangkok —

A taiwanese tourist was found dead under suspicious circumstances yesterday at his accommodation in bangkok. he had arrived in thailand just two days before, according to the royal thai police..

The body of 47-year-old Chu Chiang Chen was discovered yesterday morning, November 16th, at his hotel on Soi Udomsuk (Sukhumvit 103), Bangna district, Bangkok. Bangna police chief Pol. Col. Suraphong Sukyam stated that police officers found the man lying deceased beside a bed with his legs and arms tied up.

The victim’s room is located on the sixth floor of the hotel, whose name was withheld pending further investigation. Chu was found face-down with signs of possible foul play, said Pol. Col. Suraphong.

Upon police inspection of the man’s room, several items were found scattered and ransacked. Police took pictures of the incident scene as evidence before transferring the body to the police hospital for a post-mortem examination.

A hotel clerk, whose name was withheld by police, revealed that the man checked into the hotel on November 14th at 12:43 PM. He was alone, the clerk said.

The investigation is ongoing and TPN media will provide further updates to this story as they become available from relevant authorities. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=–=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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Swiss tourist found killed on resort island in Thailand

 An officer inspects the scene where a woman was found dead at a secluded spot on the southern island of Phuket, Thailand, on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Thai media, quoting police, said the woman was a 57-year-old Swiss national. (AP Photo)

BANGKOK - Thai authorities have ordered heightened security measures on the resort island of Phuket after the discovery of the body of a 57-year-old Swiss tourist amid signs of foul play, officials said Friday.

The woman's partially clad body was found face down in water in a rock crevice near a waterfall Thursday afternoon by an island resident, police said.

From the condition of the body, it appeared she had been dead for several days, Phuket regional police commander Kitirath Phanpetch told local MCOT television.

"From what we saw at the scene, the body was covered with a black sheet, which suggests it was done by someone and she did not die of natural causes," he said.

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At a news conference in Bangkok on Friday, national police deputy spokesman Col. Kissana Phathanacharoen said investigators were still awaiting autopsy results to determine a cause of death.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha expressed his condolences to the family of the woman, identified as Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf, and urged police to devote all efforts to quickly solving the case.

"The prime minister ordered concerned agencies to expedite the investigation to identify and arrest the culprit," he said.

He also ordered other government agencies to increase support for tourists in Phuket and to "tighten safety and public health measures."

Swiss media reported that Sauvain-Weisskopf was a member of the country's diplomatic service but Thai officials did not comment on her job.

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Switzerland's Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of a female citizen, but refused to release any details about her on privacy grounds.

"Investigations into the circumstances are underway," the ministry said, adding that the Swiss Embassy is keeping in contact with the local Thai authorities about the case.

The incident casts a pall over Thailand's so-called Phuket Sandbox program to try and bring fully vaccinated foreign tourists to the previously popular tourist destination, which has been struggling massively during the coronavirus pandemic.

From the start of the program at the beginning of July through the end of the month, 14,055 visitors traveled to Phuket, generating an income of 1.925 billion Thai baht (about $58 million), according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The top five nationalities of visitors were American, British, Israeli, German and French.

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British tourist killed with sickle in Thailand was dad-of-two

A British tourist hacked to death with a sickle in a shocking attack in Thailand was a father-of-two.

Marcus Evans, from Weston-super-Mare, and his friend were attacked with a sickle-shaped knife while drinking and playing music in the early hours of Saturday in Kanchanaburi, central Thailand, according to local media.

Mr Evans’s partner paid tribute to him on social media, the Daily Mirror reported.

She posted a picture of the couple together, saying: “And just like that another person I loved dearly…. Gone xxx.”

The second victim, named as Kevin Dagnan, from Nuneaton, in media reports was taken to hospital after the attack.

A friend, Adria Licci, 59, from Italy, who also lived in the resort, told media: “They also knew the attacker and they had drinks with him before and had given him cigarettes. They used to joke with him a lot.”

She said she had heard a loud argument around 3am before seeing Mr Evans lying on the ground seriously injured.

Officers from the local Mueang Police found a sickle and a pair of shoes at the scene.

They later arrested a 23-year-old local man. Reports on Saturday suggested he had been attacked by angry residents who suspected him of being the perpetrator.

Officers believe that the two victims had been playing music and drinking before being attacked after a row escalated.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are in contact with the Royal Thai Police following the death of one British man and the hospitalisation of another in Thailand and are ready to provide consular support.”

The alleged attacks took place outside a rented room in Mueang, Kanchanaburi.

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A neighbour told police that he heard a loud noise outside while he was asleep and rose to find the two Brits.

The arrested man lived nearby and had a history of mental health problems, according to police.

Police Colonel Somkiart Chomchai said a team of police, including forensic officers, were dispatched to the scene to collect evidence.

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Tourist dies while taking a selfie on Thailand’s ‘death railway’

An Irish tourist who was born in New Zealand died while trying to take a selfie on Thailand’s “death railway.”

Patrick Ward, 45, fell to his death from a moving train in Kanchanaburi province in western Thailand on Tuesday.

Ward reportedly opened the door of the train to take a selfie. He then slipped and fell to the ground below the railway at Krasae Cave in Sai Yok district , according to reports.

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Police said that rescuers had to build a makeshift pulley system to retrieve his body.

Ward’s neck and right arm broke due to his fall. Although rescuers attempted to resuscitate him for around 30 minutes, he eventually succumbed to his injuries, according to reports.

The New Zealand Embassy had been informed to take custody of his body for his funeral, according to police.

More from NextShark: Suspect Arrested for Home Invasion, Murder of Woman and 8-Year-Old Daughter

The “death railway,” also known as the Thai-Burma Railway, was built from 1940 to 1943 by civilian laborers and prisoners of war taken by the Japanese.

It was meant to move soldiers and weapons for Japan’s Burma campaign during World War II.

There were an estimated 180,000 to 250,000 civilians and over 60,000 Allied prisoners of war who were forced to build the railway. Over 100,000 of them reportedly died.

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Mysterious suicide of a 50-year-old Australian tourist at Phuket Airport on Tuesday evening

• August 31, 2023 at 2:04 pm
• by News Desk
• in Crime , Foreigners , Living , More News from Thailand , Thailand
• Tweet Share Share

Man had made contact with his family in Australia on Saturday in a distressed state. Police on Wednesday underlined that Mr Beasly had no prior criminal history and had not bought an airline ticket. Yet, he left the country over the weekend returning on Monday.

Police are investigating the apparent suicide of a 50-year-old Australian tourist in Phuket who was captured on CCTV moments before his death tearing up his remaining bank notes and plunging from the fifth floor of a sixth-floor building. It emerged that Justin Beasly had only arrived in Phuket last Thursday but appeared to experience emotional difficulties during his trip and at one point, over the weekend, left the country returning on Monday.

A distraught family in Australia has spoken of their devastation after it was confirmed that the 50-year-old foreigner, Justin Beasly, who jumped from a car park at the Phuket International Airport on Tuesday night the 29th of August at approximately 8.30 pm was their relative whom they had been seeking to find since he called home last Saturday in a distressed state.

A security guard at the six-story car park facility within the Phuket International Airport complex on Tuesday evening observed a foreign man tearing up bank notes on the 5th floor of the facility before jumping to his death in an area reserved for motorcycle parking.

50-year old arrived on Thursday in Phuket and was staying at a hotel in the Patong area of the island

Mr Beasly only arrived in Thailand last week on Thursday the 24th of August but there were indications that all was not well after he made contact with his family in Australia on Saturday. 

The man had been staying at a hotel in the Patong area of the holiday island where police on Wednesday still found his luggage and belongings.

Local police, afterwards, confirming the death of the Australian while withholding his name, made it clear that the Australian did not have any links with criminality and also had not purchased any airline tickets after his arrival in Thailand last Thursday.

Family back in Australia launched an appeal online looking for their loved one after he went missing 

On Monday, his niece Taryn reached out to expat and foreigner groups in Phuket on social media in a desperate bid to track down her uncle who we now know is mysteriously thought to have left the kingdom sometime last weekend and re-entered on the 28th of August, the day before he took his own life.

His family, on Monday, on social media explained that Mr Beasly ‘was very distressed when last heard from, cannot make contact with him and his family are horrendously worried if you see him please let him know his family needs to hear from him and to know he’s safe.’

On Wednesday evening in a statement to media in Australia, including  Yahoo News , the family confirmed that they had been alerted by police in Phuket as to their uncle’s fate.

They issued an emotional statement.

‘The love his family had for him was indescribable. He was humorous and had the most beautiful soul,’ it read.

Beasly’s suicide captured on CCTV

On Wednesday, Police Colonel Salan Tantisartsanakun, the police chief of Sakhu Police Station, briefed the media in Thailand on the incident on Tuesday evening at the island’s busy international airport.

He confirmed that police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Beasly’s death although the incident was captured on CCTV footage at the airport and did not appear to be suspicious.

Police Colonel Salan said the CCTV footage showed the man tearing up a ฿500 and ฿50 note before he went to jump from the fifth floor of the building. 

As he moved to commit suicide, an alert security guard on duty shouted at him not to jump but to no avail. 

Nonetheless, a criminal investigation case has been opened into the incident and the Australian Embassy in Thailand has been notified.

It is understood that Mr Beasly arrived at the airport on Thursday evening on a rented motorbike. 

Pattern of fatalaties in Phuket linked to Australian tourists since the kingdom reopened in 2022

Tuesday’s tragedy follows a continuous roll of fatal incidents involving Australian citizens, nearly all men, who have died in Phuket over the last year or so since foreign tourism to the island resumed.

There is also a similar pattern prior to the pandemic.

The latest case involved the death of Mr Matthew Winder in police custody after being arrested by local police in the Patpong area of Phuket on Sunday 23rd April last for being involved in an altercation with security personnel at an entertainment venue on the Bang La Road.

His body was found the next day at lunchtime after he hanged himself in his prison cell. 

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In July last year, 19-year-old Joshua James Connell fell from the top of a hotel he was staying in Patpong, after trying to balance himself on a perimeter wall on the sixth floor of the hotel.

Two months earlier, in May 2022, 22-year-old Billy James Simmons fell from the balcony of the Royal Paradise Hotel and Spa, also in the Patpong district of the island, an act which police attributed to the use of sex drugs and alcohol which was found in his room.

Singapore man who fell from the 5th floor of a Krabi hotel walked away from the incident last Saturday

On Wednesday, Police Colonel Salman had another news story for the media when he revealed that another foreigner, this time a tourist from Singapore, had jumped from the fifth story of a hotel in southern Krabi province, on Saturday, August 26th.

The man, only identified as Mr Brian, had booked into the Krabi Seabass Hotel for one night this week with a friend before the alarm was raised after he fell from his hotel bedroom. 

Amazingly, the man survived, suffering just a few scratches and was taken, at the insistence of emergency responders, to hospital for a checkup even though he was able to walk quite normally after the fall.

His 37-year-old companion Ho Si Ping told reporters that he had been experiencing mental health issues and in the hours before the fall had sought help from Krabi Hospital.

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Canadian Tourist, 24, Dies After Falling From Moving Train In Thailand

24-year-old ryan joseph ralph was travelling with his british girlfriend shona morgan, 22, when he fell from the overnight locomotive from bangkok on march 20..

The tourist is believed to have been injured after falling off the train. (Representative pic)

A Canadian tourist in Thailand died on Wednesday after falling from a moving train en route to "Death Island". According to The Independent , 24-year-old Ryan Joseph Ralph was travelling with his British girlfriend Shona Morgan, 22, when he fell from the overnight locomotive from Bangkok on March 20. Ms Morgan had flown to Thailand to be with his boyfriend, who had been travelling in the country for just over a month, to celebrate his birthday. The couple were trying to reach Koh Tao island in the south of Thailand when the tragedy struck. 

A couple of hours into the journey, Mr Ralph had left his girlfriend sleeping while he went for a cigarette at the end of the carriage, many of which have no doors or barriers. As per The Independent , the tourist is believed to have been injured after falling off the train before being pulled briefly along the tracks. 

Ms Morgan said she raised the alarm when she woke up an hour later and he was missing. Nearly 200 police officers and rescuers then joined a search for the 24-year-old. Police believe that the tourist lost his footing while the train was still moving, before dragging himself underneath to escape the wheels. However, he later passed out and died from blood loss, the outlet reported. 

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The couple had been planning to celebrate Mr Ralph's birthday at Koh Island, which has been dubbed "Death Island" following the 2014 murders of two British tourists. He was found dead on Thursday, under a newly built platform at a station in the Ratchaburi province. Cops said that he was found with severe injuries on both legs. 

"He had in his pocket a wallet containing various documents and Thai banknotes," Police Lieutenant Colonel Rathnont Kasemchaisit said. "From the preliminary investigation, there were no traces of assault," he added. 

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Separately, a rail worker said he was shocked when he found the 24-year-old dead. 

Meanwhile, there have been a series of deaths on Thailand's trains which are often blamed for poor safety standards. In 2014, a 19-year-old died when he fell from a train on the same route, as per the outlet. In 2017, a 20-year-old British tourist was also left in intensive care after falling from a moving train on the same journey. 

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Brit backpacker, 31, found dead in drain after pub crawl on Thailand’s notorious Death Island with girlfriend

• Katie Davis , Senior Foreign Reporter
• Published : 9:03, 12 Apr 2024
• Updated : 12:59, 12 Apr 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

A BRITISH backpacker has been found dead in a drain on Thailand's notorious Death Island.

Theo Bailey, believed to be 31, went missing while on a pub crawl with his long-term girlfriend.

It is understood the couple were drinking with other holidaymakers on the island of Koh Tao on March 18 before the Brit vanished.

He was found the next afternoon in a shallow water drainage ditch outside the Roctopus diving centre. 

Thai police believe Theo had been there for several hours before he was discovered and that his phone was missing.

A local police chief said today that the case "was still open" but they had not made any arrests.

They claim to be waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination.

In a heartbreaking tribute, Theo's girlfriend Chantal Xerri, 27, said: "This is probably the hardest post I will ever have to do in my life.

"Last week, my best friend became an angel. Theo, having you in my life for 10 years will never be long enough.

"I will spend the rest of my life missing you and you will forever have my heart. Thank you for all the amazing and silly memories we have together. I miss you and I love you."

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Theo was found dead near Sairee Beach - the same beauty spot where Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were bludgeoned to death on Koh Tao in September 2014.

Their deaths lead to the island being given the grim moniker Death Island.

Lieutenant Colonel Chokchai Suthimek said detectives believe the latest Brit's death was an "accident".

He said: "We believe that the tourist walked and fell into a small water channel at night.

"The police arrived and cordoned off the scene of the incident and examined the area the next day. Forensics unit arrived and also examined the scene.

"The body was sent for a detailed examination at the forensic department at Surat Thani Hospital and reported to the British Embassy to coordinate with the tourist's family.

"The case is still open. We are waiting for a report back from the autopsy. Nobody has been arrested. We think it was an accident."

Theo and his girlfriend Chantal, from Essex, were pictured wearing matching black vests emblazoned with 'Koh Tao Pub Crawl'.

The event is organised by Choppers Sports Bar on the island and charges revellers 580 Baht (£12.70) to join.

His death adds to the grim toll of Western backpackers who have died mysteriously on the island following the horrific murders of Hannah and David ten years ago.

Burmese  bar workers Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 29, were sentenced to life in prison for their murders.

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In the last decade alone, there have been at least 16 known cases of tourists dying on the island - though it is understood there are many more.

An FCDO spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand and are in touch with the local authorities.”

Tourists found dead on Thailand's Death Island

IN the most high-profile case, which lead to Koh Tao being branded Death Island, Hannah and David were discovered dead on Sairee Beach in 2014.

They had both been bludgeoned to death.

Below are other cases where the identities of the deceased are known and the official expiation is unclear or disputed.

Swiss tourist Hans Peter Suter, 44, went missing on Koh Tao before he was washed ashore at Talay Ngam beach in Lang Suan district of Chumphon province in November 2014.

His family and friends do not believe the Thai government's explanation that the strong swimmer had drowned.

Nick Pearson, 25, from Derby, was found floating dead in the sea off Koh Tao after visiting the island on a family holiday, just two months after Witheridge and Miller were found murdered.

Nick's parents maintain that he was killed in December 2014.

Christina Annesley, 23, from Orpington, South London, was on a four-month trip across Southeast Asia when she died on the island in January 2015.

A British coroner refused to accept the Thai findings into the death.

Dmitri Povse, 29, from France was found hanging from a ceiling on a balcony at Ta Chin Bungalow on Koh Tao at the beginning of January 2015.

His hands were tied behind his back, making it unlikely he had carried out the act himself, but local police dismissed it as suicide.

Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, went missing on Koh Tao in February 2015. She was a strong swimmer who had competed in races but she has never been found.

Luke Miller, 26, from the Isle of Wight, was found dead in a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach Koh Tao in January 2016.

Police are said to have told his family he was attacked in a bar the night before he died and post-mortem examination even found head injuries but Thai police ruled he drowned.

Scuba diving instructor Jean Francois Lout, 46, vanished on March 14, 2016, on a boat off the coast of Koh Tao, where he was working.

His body was found two weeks later dumped behind a school on the mainland in Surat Thani province.

Belgian backpacker Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanging from a tree in a jungle and half-eaten by lizards on Koh Tao on April 27, 2017.

A series of mysterious events were discovered in the days leading up to the death, including her suitcase boarding a boat, but Thai authorities ruled she killed herself.

Her mother Michele van Egten is certain that Elise was murdered and police are covering up the killer's identity.

Alexandr Bucspun, 33, from Moldova, was found dead in the sea off Had Sai Ree beach on Koh Tao on October 11, 2018. Police never found out how he died.

Bernd Grotsch, 47, was found dead at his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao in June 2018. He had built up a motorbike rental business that challenged local dominance in the local market.

Police claim he died of heart failure - a theory his family do not believe. They say police refused to provide post-mortem examination reports and they do not believe the findings.

Rocio Leticia Gomez, 39, from Argentina was lost on her first scuba dive in December 2018 on Koh Tao. She was pulled to the surface but died a few days later. Her friends pressed for an investigation but no action was taken.

Multi-millionaire hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul, 59, and his wife Anshoo, 55, were found dead floating in a hotel swimming pool hours after checking into the resort on Koh Tao in June 2021.

Policee said that CCTV cameras at the luxury hotel were "not functioning" on the day the wealthy couple died.

Neil Giblin, 48, was found dead on January 18, 2023. The circumstances surrounding the death of the healthy and highly experienced scuba diver remain a mystery.

Spike in tourist deaths sparks ministry concern

PUBLISHED : 11 Feb 2016 at 05:59

NEWSPAPER SECTION: Business

WRITER: Chadamas Chinmaneevong

The Tourism and Sports Ministry is working to address the issue of tourist safety after a 54% jump in the number of foreign tourists who lost their lives in Thailand last year.

A report by the Bureau of Prevention and Assistance in Tourist Fraud revealed that 83 foreign tourists died in Thailand last year, up 54% from the previous year. Another 166 were injured, down 160% from the previous year. The figures were compiled from reports from the ministry's 10 offices nationwide.

Of the 83 deaths, 34 were from road accidents, nine from swimming and boating accidents, six from congenital disease, four from suicides and 30 from other causes.

The report named several risky swimming areas for tourists, including Tawan Beach on Pattaya's Koh Larn (Chon Buri) and Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui (Surat Thani). Mu Koh Similan (Phangnga) and Koh Hae (Phuket) were noted as risky areas for scuba diving.

Dangerous roads for tourists included highway 1095 from Chiang Mai to Pai district in Mae Hong Son, highway 118 from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, highways 2258 and 2296 to Khao Khor (Phetchabun) and highway 4233 to Karon mountain (Phuket).

Putting the numbers in focus . In 2015, visitors to Thailand had about

• one chance in 301,204 of dying
• one chance in 735,294 of dying in a vehicle crash
• one chance in 2,8 million of dying while swimming or boating,
• One tourist in every 6,250,000 committed suicide

Although Thailand's tourist industry has been growing, with the number of tourist arrivals reaching almost 30 million visitors last year, tourist safety is still a major concern.

According to the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2015, Thailand ranked 35th globally and 10th in Asia-Pacific.

For safety and security, Thailand came in 132nd place out of 141 countries and was the lowest in Asean with a score of 3.75.

The issue came to the forefront last Friday when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his concern after Russian tourists were seriously injured in a speedboat accident near Koh Phi Phi. Gen Prayut's remarks prompted authorities overseeing tourist safety to seek out a solution.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry held a meeting on Tuesday to address the issue with the Commerce Ministry, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Public Health Ministry, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Airports of Thailand and the Tourist Police Division.

Pongpanu Svetarundra, permanent secretary at the Sports and Tourism Ministry, accepted that Thailand needs to upgrade its safety and security standards for tourists as soon as possible.

"In the past, we did not deal with the root causes of the tourist safety problem. From now on, we will look at the issue and address it seriously," he said. He hoped to see the country's ranking in safety and security move up to the middle tier of Asean countries.

The study on water accidents will be done in Krabi while data on road accidents will be gathered in Chiang Mai. Governors of the two provinces will chair the research committee with the reports expected to be completed within three months.

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Koh Tao Murders: Is Koh Tao Safe in 2024?

Unfortunately more tragic news from the so called Death Island of Koh Tao occurred when on June 4th 2021 the 2 lifeless bodies of a Thai/Indian billionaire couple were found dead in the Jamahkhiri Resort & Spa hotel pool. There was no evidence of a misdemeanour, but the bodies were sent to the police hospital for autopsy. Sadly another case of tourists deaths on Koh Tao.

In January 2018 a British traveler was found death in a hotel pool along Sairee Beach. There were at that time a lot of rumors going around but no one really knows what happened. In the end it was stated by the police that it was a tragic accident. Fact is that they found another dead body in Koh Tao under suspicious circumstances. One of the many tourist deaths in Thailand per year.

Death Island or Murder Island

Koh Tao has already been struggling with a very bad reputation after the Koh Tao murders in September 2014 when a British couple was killed and left behind on Sairee Beach. From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island.

Will Koh Tao ever be able to get rid of that negative image?

As the love for Koh Tao and Thailand is real, you might think I am biased writing this blog. But don't worry I am not here to promote Koh Tao as a tourist destination or telling you  island hopping in Thailand  is completely safe. I simply want to give you some more information about the safety issues in Thailand based on my personal experiences as I lived in Koh Tao and traveled around Thailand uncountable times since 2008.

I understand, because I am a sporty and fit 1.86 meter (6'1) tall Dutch guy, I might not be the best benchmark for writing an article about how safe it is to travel to Koh Tao. With all due respect but I obviously have no idea how a small blonde girl would feel visiting Koh Tao. But in this article I express my personal opinion on the safety issues in Koh Tao island based on my own experiences.

A big discussion started when I posted a picture on my 500K+ Instagram account @traveltomtom with the caption that Koh Tao was a peaceful paradise. It reminded me again of the horrible scenes that took place on this pristine island and that will forever be engraved in people's minds. While traveling to Koh Tao lately I was in such a good mood, surrounded by good vibes and excited by all the cool things to do in Koh Tao that I forgot about the dark past of Koh Tao and its nickname of Murder Island.

UPDATE about the Koh Tao Murders

On the 29th of August 2019 the Thai supreme court upheld the death sentence for the two Burmese men who allegedly are guilty for the Koh Tao Murders which happened on my birthday September 15th in 2014.

In August 2020 the death sentence was commuted to life in prison under royal pardon by the decree.

The Koh Tao Murders happened just a couple hours after I was celebrating my birthday on the same beach in the very early morning of September 15, 2014. The rest of the week, the island wasn't the same anymore.

My beloved Koh Tao felt it had lost its dignity!

I have traveled to Thailand more than 20 times. The global pandemic stopped me from traveling to Thailand for a while but I was back recently and added some cool activities to my already long list of the best things to do in Koh Tao .

you may also like...

This time I also got a change to visit Koh Chang and the Golden Triangle up North. Interested to see my ultimate Thailand itinerary  then have a read in the link.

Is Thailand safe for tourists in 2024?

First off let me tell you that if you think Thailand is dangerous for tourists , you are wrong! It mostly always comes down to your own behaviour and therefore I wrote a Thailand travel guide , with everything you need to know. Don't let your Thailand holiday be ruined by your own stupid mistakes! Be a responsible tourist in the first place.

Asking yourself the question is it safe to travel to Thailand , starts with yourself. Like during all your travels around the world the golden rule is: use common sense and when you feel something is not right then walk away from the situation!

Secret Thailand travel tip: did you know that flying from either Phuket or Krabi towards Chiang Mai is 50% cheaper than the other way around. These and more tips for a searching for the best domestic flights in Thailand  in my latest Thailand travel blog, click on the link!

Is Koh Tao Safe?

Although they say that the last casualty (guy found dead in a hotel pool) was a tragic accident, the odds are against Koh Tao. Hacker group Anonymous hacked the Thai police stating that they wanted justice for the Koh Tao murders in September 2014. Horrible stories from an island that is well known for its laid-back vibe! Unfortunately there is a dark side of Koh Tao and some people call it the Wild Wild West Island. Rumours go that a couple very influential families, kind of like Koh Tao Mafia style, rule the island. May be it is the truth, may be it is a myth.

Koh Tao Mafia

But please don’t get scared! I have lived on the island for more than 7 months in total and traveled there uncountable times on top of that. I have never seen anyone running around with a gun on the island or heard stories that they knock on your door for a share of your business.

Koh Tao Mafia truth or myth... as a tourist you are not willing to get in touch with any of these things, right? But trust me if you travel to Koh Tao you don’t get involved with daily politics on the island! I am 100% sure about it. So how safe is Koh Taoi? It mostly depends on how you behave yourself.

Note: in all my continuous travels around the world since December 2012, I have never ran into a bad situation. It could mean I have been lucky, but please travelers: USE COMMON SENSE and your intuition and be aware that traveling involves risks!

Koh Tao Murders

Although I was living on the island at the times of the murders and even celebrating my birthday on the same beach a couple hours before the Koh Tao Murders happened, I never ran into any issue on the island ever. That said, it was my second time I lived in Koh Tao and it was the second time there had been a fatal incident.

I will never forget the day I turned 30 and I cheered with friends until early morning 02.00 am on Sairee Beach. A couple hours later a British couple got brutally murdered and left behind only two hundred meters away from where I had been drinking beers and having fun with my friends. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! Creepy…

There is a big chance you will fall in love with this little paradise. The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. There are amazing hiking trails and viewpoints in Koh Tao , it is one of best scuba diving destinations in the world  and there are many more other  cool things to do in Koh Tao .

Scuba diving is the main tourist drag and when the scuba lessons are over the partying starts. With such incredible sunsets on the main party beach, the party starts early. Loads of beach bars to choose from and happy hours to get you started. Of course tourists get drunk and alcohol makes you do crazy things. But remember you are still in Thailand!

So how safe is Koh Tao? Should I really travel to Koh Tao? Any reasons to be worried? Yes of course! The Koh Tao Murders may have been a fatal incident on its own, but people got murdered. Could this have happened on any other island in Thailand as well? Personally I think so...

I have now visited Koh Tao over 10 times and I have never had any problem at all! Enough experiences to tell you that YES you always have to be aware of what is happening around you and be responsible in what you do. But also to tell you that NO Koh Tao is not a murder island.

The vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of tourists that visit Koh Tao every year never have any issues or whatsoever.

Get around Thailand safely

Traveling in Thailand became much easier and safer since I started using 12Go Asia. Buying your tickets for boats, trains, flights and busses is the safest and most reliable online.

This search engine for Thailand transportation also shows you all the available options in one overview. Flights are faster, but more expensive, trains more comfortable than busses, but overnight, etc. Try it below yourself.

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9 Koh Tao safety tips

If Koh Tao is part of your Thailand itinerary there are a couple things you have to keep in mind, but this basically counts for every tourist destination in Thailand and in the world.

1. Respect the Thai people and their culture

Respect the Thai people! You are the tourist, you are visiting their country so YOU should adapt to their standards and not the other way around! Don’t argue with them for too long, don’t feel too cool to say sorry and walk away from the scene. You never know who you are up to, don’t let a small issue ruin your holiday.

These Thai people might seem like little boys to you but they could be ferocious fighters, be careful! Besides that, islands are like small communities and they all know each other. It will always be you against the island. Think twice before getting yourself into trouble! and stay away from fighting with locals.

2. Stay away from drugs

Stay away from drugs! That sounds like an obvious thing, but on islands where the atmosphere is so extremely chilled it is a very tempting thing to do. Island life is all about flip-flops, bathing suits and funny t-shirts, life is at low pace and many tourists smoke weed. Yes, I have been there and yes I have smoked weed myself when traveling to Koh Tao.

In fact Koh Tao definitely became a place where  you can easily find organized parties, like jungle raves, etc. And whatever you want, you can find.

Although things have drastically changed in the last couple years and smoking marijuana is pretty much decriminalised in Thailand, it still is a grey area. I lately traveled to Bangkok and saw marijuana stores everywhere. It was something shocking to see.

But keep in mind that Koh Tao is NOT Bangkok. Different place, different rules. When smoking marijuana in Koh Tao be very careful!

Don’t forget that Thailand is still ruled by a Military regime. The rise in tourist deaths in Thailand brought more police to the islands and stories of being caught with marijuana are still pretty common.

Apparently a 50,000 THB ($1,400 USD) fine is what can happen and your passport will be taken from you until the fine is paid. I don’t know if that is law in Thailand but on Koh Tao the police sometimes makes their own laws.

Simply stay away from drugs when visiting Koh Tao that makes it all much easier.

3. Be responsible and use common sense

Use common sense and stay out of trouble in the first place! Yes go partying, get drunk, play beer-pong, drink buckets, get shit-faced but always make sure you are able to get home properly. Simple things your parents would tell you too: don’t walk along the beach on your own at night. There is a big change nothing will ever happen, but a wasted tourist is an easy victim.

4. Choose where to stay in Koh Tao wisely

Think on forehand where you want your Koh Tao hotel to be. Are you into partying then book your accommodation close to Sairee Beach. Are you looking to stay in remote bays then keep in mind that after sunset there is not much going on.

To get around Koh Tao at night you should have your own motorbike or take an expensive taxi ride. Read my complete guide on where to stay in Koh Tao for more tips.

Don't walk home alone or with just the two of you. The streets are not well lit at night. Take a taxi just to be sure. ALthough expensive, just take a taxi at night.

5. Don't drink and drive

In case you do decide to get your own motorbike don't get drunk and then jump on your motorbike. Yes I know that drinking and driving is totally accepted in Koh Tao, but try to not be one of those diving class students that show up in the morning all bruised because they fell off their motorbike driving drunk back home.

6. Renting a motorbike

A common Koh Tao scam occurs with renting motorbikes. The island is very challenging to navigate as there are a lot of dirt roads and some are really steep. Unfortunately a lot of motorbike accidents happen on the island and it sincerely is a Koh Tao safety issue. My advice is to rent a motorbike with insurance . Click on the link to read my article about it and where to go.

7. Don't accept drinks from strangers

In my time living on Koh Tao there were a lot of stories about spiking drinks. Fire show boys were named notorious, however I never ran into anyone that this actually happened to. Just simply never accept drinks from strangers and keep your own drink closely. This is not a specific safety tip for Koh Tao, but everywhere around the world. However you are on holiday and partying, things can ugly go wrong, so please be aware that these things can happen and protect yourself from it.

8. Don't walk alone at night

Another thing that should actually be clear is to never walk away from a party alone. Especially at night just always stay around other people. If there really is no other solution just ask the help of an other random group of tourists. They are most likely willing to help out a stranger.

9. Stay connected

Yes, being offline is the new luxury, but don't fool yourself. When traveling around Thailand life is much easier with data on your phone and not being dependent on WiFi. Staying connected solves a lot of problems, use Google Maps to not get lost, instant access to your banking apps, ordering a taxi via an app and of course in emergencies.

Avoid high roaming costs by just $9.99 USD. Check out my guide for buying a prepaid tourist sim card in Thailand or check my list of the best e-sim cards for traveling to Thailand in 2023 .

Especially nowadays it is so easy to get an e-sim card for Thailand or buy a sim card at Bangkok Airport on arrival .

Taking a taxi in Koh Tao

Well if talking about the Koh Tao Mafia here you go. Taking a taxi in Koh Tao is simply very expensive, but if you are ready to pay the hefty rates then there is no safety issue here either. My mind boggles when you order a taxi ride that takes about 10 minutes and they charge you $20. That is the price you pay to get from Sairee Beach to Chalok Bay. Of course when splitting with 4 people this is fine.

Some Koh Tao travel blogs tell you that prices depend on your haggling skills. Very much not true I can tell you! Prices for taxi rides in Koh Tao are fixed and they all stick to it. May be the significant drop in tourists because of the Corona pandemic in 2020 and 2021 made these taxi drivers charge more sane prices, but I doubt it.

Thai people are lovely, but just like in any other tourist destination around the world the taxi drivers in Koh Tao will do all they can to rip off people. They drive like maniacs, think they are untouchable, are often rude and over charge tourists any time they can! I love Koh Tao, but these guys are a blot on this tropical paradise destination in Thailand.

If you are a solo traveler, taxi drivers will most likely try to rip you off. But remember this only hurts your wallet! Stay safe and always take a taxi at night.

Koh Tao Island Guide

Koh Tao is an amazing place to enjoy your holiday and you should be totally fine! Almost every tourist that visits Koh Tao is not yet ready to leave at the end of their trip and sails away with mixed feelings: happy to have experienced this little paradise, but sad they have to go already!

Need any advice on where to stay in Koh Tao then let me help you book a place on the right side of the island. Adventurous and want to hike to the best viewpoints ? Or want to know the best hidden bays or a secret sunrise spot? Click here to read about the best things to do in Koh Tao . About to rent a motorbike ? Let me tell you where you can book one with insurance, so you wont get scammed.

I have traveled around the islands extensively and would love to help you plan your trip to Thailand . Take a look at my suggested Thailand island hopping tours  or check out which islands to go in Thailand  for your purpose of travel or read here all the  things I miss about Thailand .

If you would like to be prepared for your trip to Thailand then have a look at my guide telling you everything you need to know when you travel to Thailand: visas, safety issues, scams, the culture, things to do and things NOT to do, the best national parks, about the street food, the travel adapter you need, the vaccinations and many more things. Click on the picture to read all about it.

Still in doubt whether to travel to Philippines or Thailand? Let me help you as in my article Travel to Thailand or Philippines I compare my two favorites island destinations!

Boat, ferry, bus, train and flight tickets for island hopping in Thailand

Don't get dodgy boat tickets from street vendors. Secure your seat online! Safer, easier and no hassle. Check your Thailand routes below and 12Go Asia tells you all the options (bus, boat, train, flights) including time tables and direct booking options.

If this Koh Tao blog about safety issues was helpful for your trip please pin it on Pinterest, share it in a Facebook Group or tweet it on Twitter. A small thing for you to do, but it can make a big difference for me. Thanks a lot!

May you have any additional questions please leave me a comment below and I am happy to help you out with everything you want to know about the beautiful Koh Tao Island.

• koh tao murders

Australian tourist dies parasailing in Phuket after harness fails

An australian man has died while parasailing in thailand, as his wife reportedly watched on..

Australian tourist Roger John Hussey has died while on holiday on the Thai island of Phuket. Source: Facebook

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Trouble in Thailand as tourist deaths soar

NEW figures have been released concerning one of Australia’s much-loved holiday spots: Thailand. The authorities are worried about them.

Sad scene in ‘sketchiest underpass ever’

US embassy’s stark warning after Bondi

‘Horrible’: Fresh warning for Aussies in Bali

NEW figures have been released concerning tourist deaths in Thailand and they are so worrying that the local government has finally promised to work on improving visitor safety.

There was a 54 per cent jump in the number of tourist deaths at Australia’s much-loved holiday destination last year, according to a report by Thailand’s Bureau of Prevention and Assistance in Tourist Fraud.

Data collected from the ministry’s 10 regional offices showed that while 83 foreign travellers died in 2015, another 166 were injured (a drop of 160 per cent year on year).

While the main cause of death was road accidents (34), swimming and boating accidents claimed nine lives, congenital disease six, suicides four, and other causes 30.

The statistics showed that in 2015, visitors had a 1 in 301,204 chance of dying in Thailand, including a 1 in 735,294 chance of being killed in a road crash.

However, figures from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) over a similar time frame suggest this is just the tip of the iceberg. Between July 2014, and June 2015, DFAT recorded 109 deaths of Australians in Thailand , that’s not even factoring in tourists from other countries.

Either way, they are numbers that authorities say cannot be ignored any longer.

Pongpanu Svetarundra, Sports and Tourism Ministry secretary, told the Bangkok Post : “In the past, we did not deal with the root causes of the tourist safety problem. From now on, we will look at the issue and address it seriously.”

Meetings have been held between government officials to address the issue, with a study on water accidents set to be conducted in Krabi, and road accident data will be gathered in Chiang Mai.

The report also listed some of the riskiest places in the country for swimming, scuba diving and driving, including:

• Tawan Beach on Pattaya’s Koh Larn (Chon Buri)

• Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui (Surat Thani)

• Mu Koh Similan (Phangnga)

• Koh Hae (Phuket)

• Highway 1095 from Chiang Mai to Pai district in Mae Hong Son

• Highway 118 from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai

• Highways 2258 and 2296 to Khao Khor (Phetchabun)

• Highway 4233 to Karon mountain (Phuket)

Almost 30 million visitors flocked to Thailand last year, but it was ranked low on a recent list for safety and security in the Asia Pacific. It came in at 132nd place out of 141 countries in that category in the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2015.

TRAGEDY IN PARADISE

Last month, a British backpacker was been found dead in mysterious circumstances on Thailand’s Koh Tao island, the same place two backpackers were found beaten to death in 2014.

The body of Luke Miller, 24, was found floating in a hotel swimming pool, reported the UK Telegraph . Before his death Miller had taken to social media to post about how much he was enjoying his trip.

“Can honestly say this new year I am living the dream of to the full moon party on a speed boat drink cocktails strawberry daiquiris living life to the full yolo so let’s do this,” he wrote.

He had been on a five-week holiday.

The island of Koh Tao is no stranger to tourist deaths. In 2014 the semi-naked bodies of British backpackers David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were found beaten to death on the beach. Witheridge was raped before her murder.

Two Burmese men were charged and sentenced to death over the killings.

DFAT’S TRAVEL ADVICE FOR THAILAND

• The standard of medical facilities throughout Thailand varies. While private hospitals with international standard facilities can be found in major cities, services can be limited elsewhere. Private hospitals generally require confirmation of insurance or a guarantee of payment before admitting a patient. Costs can be very expensive.

• Motorcycle and other road accidents are very common in Thailand, including in resort areas such as Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui.

• Water-borne, foodborne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (including tuberculosis, cholera, hepatitis, leptospirosis and typhoid) are prevalent with outbreaks occurring from time to time. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food, and avoid unpasteurised dairy products. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.

• Illness caused by naturally occurring seafood toxins such as ciguatera as well as scombroid (histamine fish poisoning) and toxins in shellfish can be a hazard.

• The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade strongly recommends that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart.

See more tips at DFAT’s website here.

An activist has shared a confronting video of the “sketchiest pedestrian underpass” he has ever seen. What confronted him in the tunnel left him truly disturbed.

The US Embassy in Canberra has warned its citizens that ‘dangerous events’ can occur in unexpected areas following the horrific Bondi massacre.

Aussie tourists are falling sick from a common but dangerous illness in the tropical tourism mecca.

Murdered in paradise - the grim toll of holidaymakers killed in Thailand

In recent years dozens of Westerners have met gruesome deaths after travelling to Thailand in search of sun and fun

• 07:00, 12 Apr 2019
• Updated 09:20, 12 Apr 2019

It is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing in over 35 million visitors a year.

Thailand promotes itself as the Land of Smiles and is a favourite for Western visitors from young backpackers and gap year students to sun-seeking retirees.

But the southeast Asian country is quickly gaining a reputation, not for its pristine white beaches and emerald waters, but as a death trap after the brutal killings of dozens of tourists in recent years.

This week German Miriam Beelte was the latest victim after the 26-year-old was found dead on the Koh Sichang island.

She had been raped then murdered, suffering severe heard wounds and a broken leg in the attack in which she was repeatedly hit in the face with a rock, according to police.

A local man, Ronnakorn Romruen, 24, reportedly confessed to raping then murdering to stop her from reporting the sex attack.

Here we look at some of the other recent Western holidaymakers who were murdered in paradise…

Hannah Witheridge, 23 and David Miller, 34

The half-naked bodies of British backpackers David, from Norfolk, and Hannah, of Jersey, were found dead on the beach on Koh Tao island in September 2014.

The pair, who had met on the island while staying at the same hotel, had been bludgeoned to death with a wooden hoe as they walked back to their hotel rooms following an all-night party.

Hannah was also raped before her murder.

Two Burmese men were charged and sentenced to death over the killings.

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were sentenced to death for the killings.

But although David's family called the verdict 'justice', the trial of the two Burmese migrant workers was plagued by accusations of human rights abuses.

The men, apprehended soon after the pair's bodies were found, initially confessed to the crime only to retract their statements amid claims they were extracted by torture.

Elise Dallemange, 20

The body of Belgian tourist Elise, 20, had been half-eaten by lizards when it was in the jungles of Koh Tao island in April 2017.

The young backpacker had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat near the party island of Koh Phangan for two years, where she was part of the Sathya Sai Baba sect.

She was on her way home when she went missing from the Poseidon Resort where she had booked a room before her flight to Bangkok.

Locals found her body hanging from a tree when they became suspicious of a monitor lizard going back and fourth into the jungle.

Police told Elise’s mother Michele van Egten that her daughter had committed suicide by hanging herself around three days before she was found, but she believes she was murdered. 

Luke Miller, 26

Bricklayer Luke was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach on Koh Tao island in January 2016.

Before his death the 26-year-old, who had been on a five-week holiday, had taken to social media to post about how much he was enjoying his trip.

“Can honestly say this new year I am living the dream of to the full moon party on a speed boat drink cocktails strawberry daiquiris living life to the full yolo so let’s do this,” he wrote.

An inquest found “no evidence” he had been murdered, but his family have accused the Thai police of a cover-up.

In a statement following his hearing, James Gissing, who was in Thailand with Luke, said he felt “police were covering up as it was the death of another foreigner on Koh Tao”, referring to the Witheridge and Miller murders.

Nicola Gissing, who was also on holiday with Luke when he died, has claimed her friend’s death was no accident.

Christina Annesley, 23

British holidaymaker Christina, from Orpington, Kent, died in January 2015, shortly after arriving on Joh Tao island, after apparently mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol.

But her parents slammed Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death, with her day Boyne claiming police didn’t carry out a toxicology report.

He said at the time: "We don't know how or why she died.

"She had medication for a chest infection and was drinking, but the Thai police failed to investigate if the combination was sufficient to kill her."

He also had to track down a man seen on surveillance footage leaving his daughter's flat hours before she was discovered.

He had not been questioned by police - even though officers had his name in their files.

Nick Pearson, 25

Nick, from Derby, was found floating in a Koh Tao island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop, on New Year’s Day 2014.

Despite claims of a fall, he had no broken bones.

Police later ruled out foul play but Nick's family believe he was murdered and claimed officers did not not investigate a single witness.

The 25-year-old's mum Tracey told a documentary about the island she would warn parents not to allow their children to travel to there.

She said: "I would tell them to do everything in their power to stop them going. It's dangerous.

"In view of what's happened to David Miller and Hannah Witheridge and various other people I've read about, it just all leads to the same thing.

"Their parents must be going through hell just like we are and we have been for the last almost two years. It just doesn't go away." 

Valentina Novozhyonov, 23

Russian tourist Valentina vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao island in mid-February 2017 - sparking a police search.

She had checked into the accommodation on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16 – but failed to do so.

A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind.

Valentina was reported to have been visiting the island to go freediving – an activity the area is famed for among backpackers.

Police chief Apichart Boonsrirote said he assigned teams to check all surveillance cameras around the hostel and on the island to find out where she was last seen, but she is still missing today.

Dimitri Povse, 29

Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanged in a bungalow on the island on New Year's Day 2015.

His death was ruled as suicide despite his hands being tied behind his back.

Associate Professor Charnkanit Krittiya Suriyamanee, a criminologist and lecturer at the faculty of social science and humanities of Mahidol University, said he doubted the suicide theory citing some irrelevant evidences

He said that the victim had been drunk to the extent that he was unable to control himself, he would not have been able to tie himself up so tightly that he died of suffocation.

Had he hanged himself, the professor pointed out that the bruises should have appeared on the neck than on his wrists.

Also, he noted that the several pieces of rope which were used in the suspected suicide appeared to be different, which might suggest that the death was not caused by suicide.

Astrid Al-Assaad Schachner, 46

Female german tourist Astrid was strangled to death after she headed to a notorious “full moon party” on Koh Phangnan island in January 2009.

Her body was found on the beach the following morning.

Thai police said a local man Tiwat Kasempch, who worked at a tattoo parlour where Astrid was last seen hours before her death, confessed to murdering her because she had been stalking him.

Lieutenant Colonel Somsak Nhurod said: Tiwat said he was drunk and angry at her.

“He found her alone outside a 7-Eleven convenience store so he invited her to join him on a motorcycle ride.

"They went together to the beach where he then strangled her with his hands.”

Astrid, from Munich, was a regular visitor to Thailand, sometimes staying for several weeks to join in the monthly parties to celebrate the arrival of the full moon.

Malcolm Robertson, 64

British sailor Malcolm was on a round the world trip with his wife Linda, 58, when he was bludgeoned to death by pirates on his yacht off the Andaman sea coast of Thailand in March 2009.

The couple, who owned a chain of coffee shops around their hometown of St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, had been sailing around the world for more than ten years, occasionally flying home to see friends and family.

Linda told police her husband was beaten to death with a hammer by men trying to steal the small dinghy kept on their 44ft yacht. They then threw his body overboard.

She was left fearing for her life as they kept her tied up for about 10 hours before they fled the yacht.

Three Burmese teenagers were later jailed for 25 years after pleading guilty to the murder.

Troy Pilkington, 51

American Troy was hacked to death by a Bangkok taxi driver after getting into an argument of a $1.60 fare in July 2013.

Police said that Chidchai Utmacha, 32, told them that Troy, who had been in the country for three years working for Caterpillar Inc, had accused him of rigging the meter as they say in traffic on the city’s Sukhumvit Road.

He claimed that the victim refused to pay the 51 baht fare, then threw a cup of coffee at him when he asked for the money, after which he pulled a 12-inch machete from the boot and chased after him.

CCTV footage captured part of the struggle and shows the taxi driver wildly swinging a machete as the other man flails his arms and tries to grab the driver.

After the attack, Utmacha dumped the machete into a canal and threw away his shirt.

Chidchai Utmacha, 32, was convicted of murder and carrying a weapon in public without reasonable cause.

Stephen Ashton, 22

British holidaymaker Stephen was killed by a stray bullet at a New Year’s beach party on Thailand’s Koh Phangan island.

The City trader, who was on a gap year with five friends, was reportedly dancing on the sand with 300 partygoers when he was caught in crossfire following a fight between two groups of Thai men.

As one of the groups fled the car, one man turned back and fired a gun, hitting Stephen in the torso and causing devastating injuries.

Despite frantic efforts by his distraught friends and other revellers, he died soon afterwards at a local hospital.

Local police officer Lieutenant Colonel Somsak Noorod said: “He was shot in the side while he was dancing on the beach.”

Police later arrested Ekkapan Gaewkla, who initially denied opening fire but later apologised for killing the Briton. He was jailed for 34 years.

Fabrice Boigeol, 37

Frenchman Fabrice was found dead lying in a pool of blood in his rented bungalow at the Moragot Resort in Rawai in August 2014.

Police believe he was murdered during a robbery. He had suffered injuries to his head, neck and chest after being hit with a hard object.

Police chief Peerayut Karajedee said: "While searching the room, we found a laptop charger, but could not find the laptop.

"We also noticed that the bungalow next to Mr Boigeol’s showed signs of a break-in – the door knob to the room was broken.

"Mr Boigeol’s room looked as though it had been ransacked, so we believe he was killed during a robbery."

Officers also checked the resort’s CCTV and found footage of two men, whom the receptionist did not recognize, in the hotel about the time they believe the killing occurred.

A 23-year-old local man was later arrested for the murder.

David Bernat, 40

Spanish holidaymaker David was bound and gagged, then hacked into pieces after going missing from the Nantiruj Tower apartments on Ko Samui island on January 20, 2016.

Officers who searched his room found that the keycard was still in the door after he was last seen leaving by motorbike.

A month later, human body parts including a head, torso, leg and arm found separately along the Chao Phraya river were found to be those of the missing Spaniard.

Police believe he had been bound and gagged before being killed as forensic tests had found fragments of tape on the arm.

According to his LinkedIn profile, David had worked in the telecoms industry for more than a decade after graduating IESE Business School in Barcelona in 2006.

Giuseppe de Stefani, 61

The charred remains of Italian tourist Giuseppe were found in a forest near  Bueng Na Rang in Thailand’s Phichit province in January last year.

Police chief Tawatchai Muannara said: “The body had been dismembered. We found only a torso, two arms and a right leg at the scene.” He was identified by a tattoo on his right leg.

Giuseppe’s Thai ex-wife Rujira Eiumlamai, 38, and her French boyfriend Rigaux Amaury later reportedly confessed to the murder.

They said they had been travelling together in a car when Amaury had got into an argument With Giuseppe about his affair with Eiumlamai, during which he stabbed him in the neck.

The pair then put his body in the boot and driven to a remote location where they chopped up the body and tried to burn it.

In December, both were sentenced to 14 years in jail.

Tariq Ahmad Bhat, 56

American Tariq was found dead by a maid on a hotel bed in Chiang Mai city in August last year.

He was face up on the bed, wearing a button-down shirt and black boxer shorts, and there was an empty cup of coffee on a bedside table.

Hotel staff told police that the man had checked in with a pretty Thai woman with short hair.

Police chief Mondritsa Bungam said: “Lots of Mr Bhat’s valuables were missing. We believe that the woman stole them. We only found a 50 baht bill and a Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus member card.

“All the evidence points to Mr Bhat having been murdered.”

Curiously, a similar case happened the following evening when another American tourist, Gene Ver Ulfgang, 69, was found unconscious in a hotel room after taking a short-haired woman back to his hotel room in the same city.

After her recovered he said $5,000 in cash and his credit card had gone missing. The credit card was later used to buy a diamond ring worth about £24,000.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Fresh pain for families of Brit backpackers killed in Thailand nearly 10 years on

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Nearly ten years on from the brutal murders of two British backpackers in Thailand , the families of two victims are facing another blow.

David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were bludgeoned to death in September 2014 by Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun on the island of Koh Tao – but now the killers are campaigning for a review of their case as they sit behind bars.

In letters seen by the Mirror , Zaw Lin wrote to his legal aid: ‘Could you please retrial again my case? I’ve never seen the people who died on the beach at Koh Tao. I want to get out as I am innocent.’

Both Lin and Htun, now 29, were Burmese migrants working at bars on the island of Koh Tao when they were convicted of the murders.

And after the Thai king scrapped the death penalty, both men are now only serving a life sentence for the crimes.

The murders

The bodies of Hannah and David were discovered beaten to death on a beach in Koh Tao on September 15, 2014.

The pair had travelled to Thailand separately but became friends while staying in the same area.

Both had been hit several times on their heads, and a post-mortem revealed Hannah had been raped before her death – and David had been drowned.

They were last seen at AC Bar, where they had been partying with friends and around 50 other tourists.

Hannah and David reportedly left together after 1 am and were discovered dead around 4am by a Burmese beach cleaner.

A bloody garden hoe and wooden club were found near their semi-naked bodies and three cigarette butts and a used condom.

Shortly after the discovery of their bodies, questions were raised about the way police handled the investigation.

Officers were critcised for moving the bodies so the tide would not wash them away and also allegedly did not test Hannah’s clothes for DNA.

The cigarette butts and condom were tested for DNA, which linked both Lin and Htun to the murder scene, prosecutors said.

The pair were given a death sentence in 2015, which was later changed to life imprisonment after the king scrapped the death penalty.

Why are they asking for a retrial?

Defence lawyers for Lin and Htun have said from the beginning that the DNA evidence used to convict the two men was unreliable.

Whilst prosecutors said the cigarette butts and condom linked Lin and Htun to the scene, the DNA taken from the murder weapon did not match that of the two suspects.

They previously appealed in 2017, but their sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.

Their defence team has continued to maintain their innocence and said the DNA evidence was mishandled, and confessions from the men were a result of ‘torture or abuse that made them fear for their lives’.

Htun and Lin have claimed police put plastic bags over their head so they couldn’t breathe, were physically beaten, and threatened with death during their integration.

Thai Police have continually denied using force and mishandling DNA evidence.

What do the families say?

The families of David and Hannah have not spoken out about the most recent campaign for retrial but previously did praise the Thai king for scrapping the death penalty.

In a 2020 statement, Ian and Sue Miller, who have campaigned against the death penalty, said: ‘We are grateful to His Majesty the King of Thailand for showing his clemency to the murderers of our son David.

‘The final admittance of their guilt has allowed this act of clemency to become possible.’

After the sentencing of Lin and Htun, David’s family said: ‘We didn’t know what to believe. It was easy to conclude they might be scapegoats. We heard the evidence and a group of activists has promoted their cause to the media.

‘They had seven top lawyers and ultimately they obtained the best possible representation in court.

‘We have attended the trial and gained respect for the court. We came to realise the police investigation was not the shambles it was made out to be.

‘It is our opinion that the evidence against Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo is absolutely overwhelming.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

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Thailand’s Tourist Towns Deal With Their Own Russian Invasion

I t’s just past 11 p.m. on Phuket’s neon-festooned Bangla Road and revelers are out in force, though the heady atmosphere is distinctly more Sochi than Southeast Asia. TVs overhanging the sprawling beer bars show ice skating instead of soccer; Cyrillic signage proliferates; and Russian-speaking touts dispense flyers for pole-dancing clubs exclusively featuring women from former Soviet republics. “Russians, Ukrainian, Belorussian, Kazakhs,” says one tout in dark Ray Bans and a skin-tight Armani polo shirt. “We have them all here.”

The war in Ukraine has entailed an incalculable human toll, while roiling markets, disrupting supply chains, and sending inflation soaring across the globe. But in Thailand, the two-year-old conflict is also having a profound social effect despite being over 4,000 miles away. While many Western nations have shut out Russian air travel in response to Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Thailand sees Russian arrivals as key to reviving its pandemic-ravaged tourism industry. In October, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin extended 90-day visas upon arrival for Russian passports, insisting in a February interview : “We’re not part of the [Ukraine] conflict. We are neutral.”

Read More: 5 Takeaways from TIME’s Conversation with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin

Last year, Russians ranked top for tourist arrivals in Thailand from outside of Asia with 1.4 million visitors. Meanwhile, Russians were top overall on the southern resort island of Phuket, which has long been a favorite haunt. Last July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Phuket to inaugurate a new consulate to cope with surging visitor numbers. A month later, the Phuket Tourist Association sent a delegation to St. Petersburg and Moscow seeking to court even more vacationers.

In the first three months of this year, 366,095 Russians arrived at Phuket International Airport, almost double the same period of 2023 and transforming the island’s commercial and social life. (That figure doesn’t include the significant number who transferred via Thailand’s main gateway of Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.) But while a boon for the macro economy, the influx has chafed with locals who increasingly complain that Russians are stealing jobs and upsetting cultural mores. Across Thailand, lurid headlines such as “ Rabid Russian assaults police team in Phuket after going berserk at a city centre hotel ” and “ Russian tourist kicks pregnant Thai woman after asked to leave shoes outdoor ” are both a symptom and cause of alarm. (However, transgressions involving New Zealand , Swiss , and Portuguese nationals admittedly proliferate also.)

“Russia and Thailand are so different and sometimes they don’t understand Thai law and culture,” Lieut. Colonel Akachai Siri, chief inspector of Phuket Tourist Police, tells TIME. “Sometimes they break the law and they don’t recognize we have law enforcement.”

Nevertheless, Thailand’s Russian incursion appears here to stay. Other than the preferential visas, sanctions on Russian air carriers and reciprocal bans on Western airlines have slashed the destinations where Russian nationals can escape their frigid winter, making already-popular Thailand an easier choice. And then there are the not inconsiderable numbers fleeing economic doldrums and a war of choice that they had no part in choosing—not least since the Kremlin has ramped up military conscription amid mounting casualties .

“That was the final straw for us,” says Mark, a Russian who fled to Thailand with his boyfriend after an initial draft announcement in September 2022 and asked that TIME use a pseudonym for security. “We understood we can’t go back because anyone can be called to the army and just die in the war.”

As a result, the number of Russians choosing to stay in Thailand long-term is soaring. Beyond 90-day visas upon arrival, thousands are applying for one-year business or education visas. Arnold, who asked that TIME use only one name for fear of reprisals in his homeland, moved from Moscow to the Thai resort town of Hua Hin permanently last year and has noticed an increase in what are colloquially termed “ relocants ” fleeing the “various negative things which are going on back home.”

The affluent are acquiring luxury cars and yachts and renting or purchasing villas. Phuket’s plush Laguna beachfront complex of villas, ornamental lake, and 18-hole golf course is now dubbed “Little Moscow,” says Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, advisory chairman to Phuket’s Tourist Association. Over half of all residents across its 1,000 acres are Russian, according to the Laguna real estate management office, which employs two native Russian speakers to deal with the shifting demographic. Across Phuket, real estate prices have bumped some 20% owing to the Russian influx, says Bhummikitti.

The incursion has also increased pressure on Akachai’s Tourist Police, which has only 60 officers to assist the 2,000-odd regular Royal Thai Police and 60 dedicated Immigration Police across both Phuket and the larger adjacent province of Pha Nga. In addition to swelling tourist numbers, whereas 60% of tourists before the pandemic traveled on tour groups with guides and agents on hand to smooth any problems, today, 70% are independent travelers, which means the Tourist Police are increasingly called to mediate all manner of conflicts.

Relaxed entry requirements have also attracted a criminal element. In early February, Phuket police arrested five suspected Russian gangsters for the kidnapping and extortion of over $800,000 in cryptocurrency from a Belarussian couple that Akachai says was retaliation for a financial dispute back home. And last month, a 42-year-old Russian man was found stabbed to death in a rented house that was being used as a cannabis farm. The chief suspect is a Tajikistani man who fled Thailand for Turkey just hours after the murder.

Yet Akachai says most crimes relate to illegal work involving Russians determined not to return home while the war rages but without the means to support themselves indefinitely—not least since international banking sanctions have rendered accessing savings more difficult. Many Russians have set themselves up as unofficial tour guides, car and motorbike rental services, real estate agents, hairdressers, or even sex workers, advertising online via Telegram groups.

Yet not all aspects of the phenomenon are troublesome. Other than Russians, a significant number of Ukrainians have fled their war torn nation for Thailand, potentially creating a tinderbox atmosphere. But Akachai says he has not encountered a single skirmish or negative incident between the two nationalities in Phuket. Yury Rozhkov, 46, a Russian national who works for a travel agency in Bangkok, says he regularly meets Ukrainians staying in his apartment building and relations are nothing but cordial.

“They understand it’s Putin, it’s not Russia, Russian people are different,” he says. “And I’m sure Russians who have money to travel to Thailand do not support Putin and the war in Ukraine.”

In Hua Hin, Arnold is a member of a Russian-language Telegram group with more than 4,500 members from across the former Soviet bloc, but he says he cannot recall a single politically charged message among the 400 or so posted every day. “99.9% of discussions are where to find the best pad thai, current prices in the local market, how to rent a car, or where to get a vaccine,” he says.

Perched by the main gate of Phuket’s Laguna resort, the d’Odessa restaurant serves Ukrainian syrniki pancakes and smoked salmon croissants slathered with gold leaf. The tablet menu has options for Ukrainian, English, and Russian—and staff say the majority of clientele speak the latter. “There are many Ukrainian restaurants filled with Russians in Phuket,” says Bhummikitti.

Ultimately, both sides caught up in this senseless conflict share a desire to stay out of harm’s way by whatever means necessary. Mark is still employed by his Russian IT company thanks to an understanding boss despite remote working being strictly against company policy. Every day he fears a draft ticket or internal enquiries by higher management could spell the end to that vital paycheck. If that happens, “I will try to find a local job or another [remote] job in Russia,” he says. “I will try every way I can not to go back.”

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Write to Charlie Campbell / Phuket, Thailand at [email protected]