On the Thai island Kho Panghan, preparations for a high-profile day were under way at the local police station. As the monsoon winds rolled in, staff carried floral arrangements up to the building’s third floor, setting the scene for a press conference scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 a.m. Spanish time. The event aims to reveal details about the case involving Daniel Sancho, the 29-year-old son of actor Rodolfo Sancho, who has admitted to killing and dismembering Edwin Arrieta, a Colombian plastic surgeon with whom he had been involved romantically. This case stands among the most widely discussed crimes in recent Spanish history, and the proceedings will be broadcast live on the Grupo Prensa Ibérica network, including El Periòdico de Catalunya.
Authorities will hold a press conference at 5:30 a.m. Spanish time this Tuesday to explain their investigation.
Relentless media attention was expected as journalists gathered in the police station’s main hall. Among the attendees anticipated was Surachate Hakparn, a prominent figure in Thailand’s law enforcement known locally as “The Big Joke,” who was reportedly to arrive by helicopter.
Evidence cited by sources close to the inquiry pointed toward a motive tied to ending a romantic relationship. Investigators noted multiple factors: phone conversations between Sancho and Arrieta, the purchase of large quantities of cleaning supplies, and a knife found in the vicinity around the time Arrieta arrived on the island. Prosecutors suggested that premeditated murder best describes the sequence of events, aligning with the statements Sancho has made to authorities and the judge involved.
Several clarifications will be pursued by the police on this small Thai island, where the case has attracted intense scrutiny. The national attention mirrors concerns over how such cases are handled abroad and underscores the timeline constraints faced by investigators. Thai law grants up to 84 days to complete investigations after a precautionary detention order, a window that officials had initially hoped to shorten to about three weeks but ultimately extended as needed.
The case file will enter the verbal stage of proceedings after involvement with the investigation team. Legal experts explain that a trial could extend from three to six months, depending on whether Sancho maintains his confession. In Thai criminal practice, aggravated murder carries severe penalties, including the potential for the death sentence, though capital punishment is rarely applied.
Sancho remained in custody in the Koh Samui area during the initial phase of confinement, with the potential for continued isolation under health protocols. While Thai facilities vary in emphasis, this center is viewed as comparatively permissive, with inmates typically serving shorter sentences, though serious offenses can lead to harsher outcomes in Bangkok’s facilities.
Surachate’s appearance at Kho Panghan highlighted the high level of government attention given to the case. After remains were found in a landfill, the Thai authorities reshaped the investigative approach, bringing in high-level leadership from the national police to oversee the remaining work. The deputy director’s involvement is seen as a signal of the seriousness with which Thailand treats crimes that affect foreign nationals and its international reputation. In the southern police station, anticipation built as the national police leader prepared to contribute to closing the investigation.