Allegations swirled of misconduct and forced confessions; of local mafia bosses influencing the investigation; and of a rush to blame outsiders and protect the island’s essential tourist industry. The footage Stone uncovered was startling – especially of a translator stroking the head of one suspect while he struggled to remember details of the crime.
As other examples of sloppy practice emerged – four other Western tourists have died on the island in suspicious circumstances in just over a year – it began to feel like a very bad trip. Thai police batted back the accusations, but it was hard to avoid the thought that this was institutional malfeasance.
