Joe Ferrari’s family reject death claim
Friends of Pol Col Thitisan” Joe Ferrari” Utthanaphon say they do not think he committed suicide by hanging himself in jail. They have asked to keep his brain for a post-mortem investigation to uncover the truth.
Thitisan, a policeman official convicted for the rape and killing of a medicine believe in 2021, was found hanged in his body at Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok on Friday evening.
The Department of Corrections issued a statement on Saturday confirming prison officers were notified of an inmate’s dying at 8.50pm on Friday. The slave was found sitting against his body entry with “bruised hands and no pulse”, the statement said. A blanket around his neck was tied to the battery door.
He was later identified as Thitisan, who had been sentenced to life prison and had served three years and six months in Zone 5 of the jail. Video footage showed that no one had entered the body, but an examination is being conducted to determine the actual cause of death.
At noon on Friday, officials said, Thitisan received a visit from his partner, and prison officials did not observe anything unusual at the time.
The statement also noted Thitisan had underlying health problems, including an anxiety condition for which he had been receiving treatment and medication.
His most recent conversation with a physician was on Feb 18. Authorities said that he exhibited neurotic behaviour, fearing that other residents may abuse him.
Thitisan had also been diagnosed with cholesterol, a lipid imbalance, and important tremor, a neurological condition that causes spontaneous rattling of the arms.
However, his relatives do not believe he took his own life, claiming he was previously assaulted by a prison official while in detention.
Sources say that, on Feb 26, his mother lodged a complaint with the director-general of the Department of Corrections, requesting an investigation.
She said that in January, Thitisan said he saw another prisoner watch pornography on a mobile phone, which violated prison rules, and when he reported the incident to a prison official, the official scolded and attacked him, accusing him of insubordination.
In one incident, the prison official allegedly seized Thitisan’s documents necessary for his court proceedings.
His mother also claimed that prison officials frequently harassed other inmates as well. She said these incidents had a severe impact on Thitisan’s mental health, worsening his illnesses.
Weerasak Nakhin, Thitisan’s lawyer, said Thitisan had instructed him to file a complaint with Prachachuen police regarding the alleged assault. He also provided a medical certificate confirming his injuries.
Mr Weerasak said police asked to question the prison official involved in the case at Klong Prem Central Prison, but the prison commander refused them entry. He added he would request Thitisan’s body to be kept for an autopsy at Thammasat University Hospital in Pathum Thani.
Thitisan, 43, and five subordinates were charged with murdering Chiraphong Thanapat, a 24-year-old drug suspect, by wrapping seven black plastic bags around his head and suffocating him to death at Muang district station in Nakhon Sawan on Aug 5, 2021.
Prosecutors alleged the officers were attempting to extort 2 million baht from Chiraphong in exchange for his freedom.
Thitisan admitted he had ordered his subordinates to torture the suspect but claimed that his intention was to extract information about drug gangs in the area.
The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct initially sentenced the defendants to death. The sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment.