A former police chief and five of his subordinates caught on camera torturing a suspect to death were sentenced this morning to life in prison.
The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on Wednesday morning sentenced Col. Thitisan Utthanaphon, the police chief better known as Joe Ferrari for his unusual wealth, to life imprisonment after he and six others were convicted of suffocating to death a suspect in their custody, 24-year-old Jirapong Thanapat.
While prosecutors had sought the death penalty, the court reduced their sentences to life because it found the police did not intend to kill Jirapong.
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Five of Thitisan’s officers got life; a sixth was sentenced to five years and four months in prison. They were also convicted of malfeasance and professional misconduct. There was no immediate word on whether they would appeal their convictions.
This past August, the police launched an investigation after a whistleblower at the Nakhon Sawan Police Station leaked harrowing footage of Thitisan and the other officers suffocating Jirapong, who they said was a suspect in a drug-related crime, with a plastic bag over his head.
Through a lawyer, the whistleblower cop said that they were attempting to extort money from the man.
The Aug. 5 footage showed officers place a bag over Jirapong’s head, with one officer beating him before others came to assist.
Jirapong’s father, Pilot Officer Jakkrit Jundee, said he and his wife have demanded THB1.5 million compensation from Thitisan and his co-defendants. He said he would consult with a lawyer for further details.
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