Four Myanmar migrant workers arrested over the murder of a 17-year-old female student in September claimed they were tortured into confessing by police in Thailand's Ranong province, the media reported on Sunday.
Moe Zin Aung, 19, Zaw Lay, 25, Mang Sane, 20, and Kyaw Soe Win, 18, confessed to taking part in the brutal stabbing of Orawee Sampaotong on the night of September 28, according to official statements they gave to police officials.
However, the four have now denied their involvement in the murder, the Bangkok Post reported.
"The police accused us of murdering the girl, and when we denied the claims, we were strangled and punched in the neck," said Kyaw Soe Win.
The four were tortured on the days they were arrested between October 20-24. The alleged abuse included being blindfolded, threatened with a gun, suffocated with a plastic bag and kicked.
Kyaw Soe Win said the confessions they signed -- which include a timeline of the events on the day of the murder -- were dictated to them by the police. He said they were forced to accept the statements.
According to Thai law, any evidence obtained by torture must be ruled inadmissible.
