The five, whose boat was anchored off the island, are accused of raping two French tourists and attacking another two male tourists who tried to help the women, according to police.
The suspects are thought to have swam 300 metres from their boat to the shore, police said.
Police yesterday night (Feb 28) arrested two of the suspects as they attempted to cross back to Cambodia through the Hat Lek border pass after officials noticed their appearance matched a description provided by the victims.
The two men were escorted to Koh Kut police station. They were identified as Thi, 20, and Bot Man, 20.
Three other Cambodian fishing crew were arrested at the crime scene earlier yesterday. They were identified as Yim, 25, Pai, 22, and Jern, 25.
The attack took place about 1km from a resort where the four tourists were staying, police said. According to an initial investigation, the four tourists were walking along a street on their way to dinner when they came across two suspects who tried to talk to them.
As the tourists were about to leave, another three men emerged from bushes nearby and grabbed the women.
The male tourists, identified as Thomas Buiron, 30, and Edbri Ronain Rene, 29, tried to fight off the attackers but were overpowered.
Mr Buiron said he and Mr Rene were attacked with knives and sticks before they managed to escape and run back to their resort. He said the other man was badly injured.
The women, one aged 57 and the other 28, were raped and severely assaulted before a car passed by, prompting the attackers to flee, police said.
A joint team of police and navy officers as well as about 50 locals sealed off the area around the scene to hunt for the attackers.
Three of the suspects were found on the island and arrested around 5am Sunday, while the other two managed to get away, before being arrested at the border later.
Pol Lt Col Suraporn Thepsen, Koh Krut deputy police chief, said the two suspects arrested at the border are believed to have travelled to Trat’s Khlong Yai district from Koh Kut on board their fishing boat.
All five suspects are Cambodian nationals working on the Chok Kamolwan fishing boat, Trat police chief Pol Maj Gen Nopparat Rintapol said.
The suspects, who had been drinking, put on lifejackets and swam to the shore to buy more alcohol before the attack, the officer said.
Police said the three tourists who are severely injured were sent to hospital in Trat’s Muang district after receiving initial emergency care on Koh Kut.
A team of investigators has been sent to question the skipper and crew members of the fishing trawler, which is now docked at a pier in Trat’s Laem Ngop district.
National police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda will travel to Koh Kut today (Feb 29) to question the five suspects himself.
Doctors at the hospital will provide an update on the condition of the three tourists later today.
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