The three suspects, said to be 18, 17, and 16 years of age, were arrested on Monday (March 2). According to police, they confessed to stabbing Thet Soe Tar, 23, to death on the last Friday night (February 27).
Pol.Col. Thewet Pluemsutthi, superintendent of Bo Put Police Station, said the teens told police that they were riding a motorcycle last Friday night when Mr Tar collided into them with his motorcycle, leading to an argument.
The suspects reportedly asked Mr Tar to pay B500 in damages, but the Burmese man said he did not have any money on him, and told the suspects to follow him to his home where he had cash.
"The deceased guided them onto Soi Mod Yim in Bo Put district. It was a dark and isolated street. The Burmese man then decided to put up a fight, and the suspects assaulted the victim, before they stabbed him and cut his throat at the crime scene," Pol.Col. Thewet said. "They took the deceased's motorcycle to be burned in a coconut orchard ... before they went home and pretended that nothing happened."
Police say they managed to track down the suspects using CCTV footage and witnesses' testimonies. They have been charged with armed robbery that lead to the death of another.
In the wake of the killing, Pol.Col. Sirichai Kertsri, deputy superintendent of Bo Put Police Station, said he believed Thet was murdered by another Burmese because of their "violent" behavior.
"We believe [the perpetrators] are from Burma, judging from their violent behavior. They like to use violence," Pol.Col. Sirichai said last Friday.
There are more than one million Burmese migrant workers in Thailand, many of whom are not officially registered under Thai law. Their lack of legal protection, coupled with widespread discrimination against Burmese people in Thailand, means they are often subject to abuse by employers, police, and human traffickers.
Meanwhile, a gunfight broke out between a volunteer police officer and a group of policemen at a bar on Koh Samui island early this morning (March 6), injuring two people.
The incident took place at Tawan Chai Cafe on Taweeratphakdee Road at around 2:30am, police say.
Staff at the bar told police that Sitthiporn Poonsawasdi, a volunteer police officer, was drinking heavily until the bar closed at 2 am. According to staff, Sitthiporn drunkenly tried to ask musicians at the bar to leave with him, and became angry when they refused.
Sitthiporn then reportedly walked to the front of the bar and fired one shot into the air, prompting the staff to alert police.
Police officers soon arrived and ordered Sitthiporn to drop his weapon, witnesses said. However, Sitthiporn allegedly refused and fired at police. A gunfight then broke out between the officers and Sitthiporn.
Sitthiporn was eventually shot in his left leg and apprehended. A police officer, Lt. Somporn Cherdchim, was also shot in his stomach during the gunfight.
Medical workers say Sitthiporn and Somporn are now in stable condition.
According to Police Senior Sergeant Chamnan Poonsakda, Sitthiporn was visibly drunk when officers arrived at the scene. He was reportedly waving his handgun in the air and threatening the bar staff.
"I have known Sitthiporn for a long time because he is a volunteer police officer," Pol.Sen.Sgt. Chamnan said. "So I tried to talk Sitthiporn into dropping his gun, but he was so drunk that we didn't understand what he was saying. He then shot at us."
Police say they have not yet charged Sitthiporn with any crime.