The two Burmese migrant workers, handed down the death penalty after being found guilty of the Kao Tao murders, will reportedly have to wait in limbo for at least another 12months before a final decision will be made on an appeal submitted by their legal team, according the Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN)—a Thai-based Myanmar migrant worker advocacy group.
The appeal process will reportedly be prolonged in such a manner because the prosecution has also decided to lodge their own appeal regarding the case.
“The prosecution have said they’d appeal. We’ll have to wait and see if they’ll actually do so, or if they’ll request more time [in which to prepare one]. Both appeals will be reviewed by the appellant court before a decision is made. It would delay the case by about a year,” said U Sein Htay, chair of the MWRN.
Defense lawyers of the two Myanmar migrant workers submitted their appeal back in May of this year, while the Thai appellant court has reportedly given the prosecution until August 25 to submit their appeal.
“The [legal] defense team of the two defendants have submitted an appeal,” added U Sein Htay. “Lawyers of the Thai government have said they will also appeal. The appellant court has subsequently given them until August 25 to lodge their appeal.”
The two Myanmar migrant workers, Ko Zaw Lin and Ko Wai Phyo, were handed down the death sentence at the Koh Samui Court of Law on 24 December 2015 for the rape and murder of a young British couple on the popular holiday destination island of Koh Tao. Upon her official trip to Thailand on June 25, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi convened a meeting at the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok with 13 organizations which work to support Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand.— Myitmakha News Agency
↧
Koh Tao murder trail appeal to be prolonged for another year
↧