Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho told EFE on Saturday that leaving Thailand was done quietly. He had stayed nearly a week to visit his son, Daniel Sancho, who was held in a temporary prison as authorities continued to handle the case related to the murder of Edwin Arrieta.
“It was a pleasant surprise, and I was very calm. Daniel is well cared for by extremely kind people, and I have noticed that those in this country behave with genuine kindness,” Sancho said, noting he remained in Bangkok before heading home to Spain on Saturday.
The 48-year-old actor arrived in Thailand the previous Sunday and visited his son in prison on Wednesday. On Friday, he was on the island of Samui, where Daniel Sancho has been detained since August 7 in a temporary facility. The 29-year-old was arrested on August 5 after admitting to a three-day murder and dismemberment of Edwin Arrieta on the tourist island of Phangan, which had been near Samui.
Rodolfo Sancho traveled to Thailand with Spanish attorney Marcos García Montes and reported spending up to five hours with his son during daily prison visits arranged by the Spanish embassy.
“At first it seemed the schedule would be strictly enforced, and that once the time was up I would be asked to leave. That wasn’t the case at all. They allowed me to spend much more time with Daniel than I had planned,” he told EFE in a phone conversation.
Visits from family and friends at Samui Prison typically last about 15 minutes, though the terms set by embassies or lawyers can be extended indefinitely, depending on the prison authorities.
Sancho also noted he had time alone with his son in considerable privacy.
“There was a lot of flexibility in this regard, and I was never watched. They understood these were intimate father-and-son conversations, with the lawyers present too, and everything was respectful,” he explained.
The actor, who previously told EFE that he had full confidence in Thai authorities and the local justice system, stated that his son is well fed and cared for in the hospital area of the prison, and that he can practice Muay Thai with his wife and friends, a sport he enjoys.
The young man is expected to stay in the “friendly and not crowded” facility at least until the Samui Tribunal trial begins, which could occur by the end of the year.
The Samui prison houses inmates serving sentences up to 15 years. If his sentence is longer, Daniel Sancho may be transferred to Surat Thani prison, in Thailand’s southern region, or to another facility where inmates face a maximum of 15 years. Security remains tight in Bangkok.
During the week, Sancho and his Thai lawyer also met with police and visited the Samui court to request information and documents related to the case.
“I have had less direct contact with the police, but they have always been very cooperative and helpful, which keeps me calm. When we went to the court to collect paperwork, the process was efficient and straightforward,” he said.
Discussing the defense strategy, Sancho explained the plan: collaboration between Spain and Thailand to support his son as much as possible.
Sancho and his lawyers are awaiting the police to complete their report on the incident. They have until the end of October to set a hearing date.
Sancho and Edwin Arrieta, who had met on Instagram last year, connected in Phangan on August 2, the day the surgeon, whose remains were found in several places around the island, including the sea, was reportedly killed and dismembered.