Ex-Police Chief 'Joe Ferrari' Found Dead in Jail Amid Controversy

The former Thai police chief, known as 'Joe Ferrari', was found dead in jail just three years after being convicted for the brutal murder of a drug suspect during an interrogation. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

Thitisan Utthanaphon, infamously dubbed 'Joe Ferrari' for his opulent car collection, has been found dead in his prison cell in Bangkok. Thitisan was serving a life sentence after a heinous torture incident that captured national attention when a video went viral in 2021, showing him and other officers suffocating a 24-year-old drug suspect, Jirapong Thanapat, with plastic bags. This shocking footage ignited widespread outrage against police violence in Thailand.

Preliminary reports indicate that Thitisan's death was a result of suicide; however, family members have cast doubt on this conclusion, prompting Thailand's justice ministry to initiate an investigation. Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong called for full transparency regarding the evidence in this case, especially after Thitisan's relatives claimed he had faced physical abuse from prison staff and were initially denied access to his body.

Thitisan's background reveals a stark contrast between his meager police salary of approximately $1,000 per month and his extraordinary lifestyle, which included owning over 42 luxury vehicles, including a rare Lamborghini priced at nearly 47 million baht ($1.45 million). The investigation is further complicated by allegations of corruption, including accusations that Thitisan extorted money from Jirapong during the interrogation process, claims he denied.

Besides Thitisan, five other officers involved in the crime received life sentences as well. In an ironic turn, Jirapong’s father expressed a sense of closure regarding Thitisan's demise, suggesting that "he has paid off the karma he committed." While the Corrections Department noted Thitisan had sought medical help for anxiety and insomnia, they asserted that no unusual behavior was noted just prior to his death. As investigations continue, questions linger about both Thitisan's life and the systemic issues of misconduct within the Thai police force.