Two speeds mark the young Spaniard Daniel Sancho’s situation as he faces the continuing Thai police investigation into the death of Edwin Arrieta, the Colombian surgeon killed on the island of Phangan on August 2. One pace accelerates with the public demand to resolve the case, while the other moves slowly, shaped by the procedural complexities that surround it.
About a month after Arrieta’s death, Thai authorities persist in preparing an investigative report for submission to the Koh Samui Procuratorate, where Sancho is temporarily detained in a makeshift jail cell. The process unfolds amid questions about the timeliness and thoroughness of the inquiry.
Delays are uncommon in a system that typically sets an 84-day window for investigations once a suspect is in custody, a period that would run to the end of October in Sancho’s case. Yet officials have argued that this timeline should not be interpreted as a sign of a stalled or incomplete investigation.
Thailand’s deputy police chief, Surachate Hakparn, who led the investigation on August 15, spoke to reporters at the Phangan police station announcing that the investigation had reached a stage where the team had prepared its findings. He announced charges including willful murder, a crime carrying the death penalty in Thailand, and noted the case would be handled with the seriousness it deserves.
Known as the “Big Joke” for his candid style, the veteran Thai police officer has repeatedly stressed that the case was processed swiftly, though not without its share of public scrutiny. In a later interview, he reiterated that the report would be completed with attention to all relevant details and that the process would continue to unfold as required by law.
Phangan police later indicated that the report was still to be finalized, due to ongoing tests and analysis, with expectations that it would be ready for a hearing once the laboratory results, including DNA findings, had been completed. The prosecution confirmed that it had not yet received the document and stated it would identify the responsible team only after the police submission.
perfect tourist country
Surachate’s remarks reflect a broader dynamic: authorities do not disclose the entire contents of the final report ahead of time. As the panel overseeing the investigation, he bears responsibility for presenting a transparent portrayal of the case to the international community and the public. He admitted that testing remains incomplete and emphasized a desire to safeguard the tourism sector, a vital pillar of Thailand’s economy, while ensuring that the public understands the facts as they unfold.
He underscored the goal of communicating clearly with the international community so ambassadors and their home governments can relay accurate information to their citizens. The implication is that the case carries diplomatic and economic significance, beyond its immediate legal dimensions.
Police investigation at your pace
Progress toward resolution continues, even as the police work to compile and analyze evidence in a framework more confidential and intricate than what is publicly shared. A substantial team — including investigators, forensic experts, and divers — has been involved. Documents show the accumulation of evidence such as clothing stored in bags and several items described as human remains, which have been forwarded for analysis to specialized centers in Bangkok and beyond.
Experts consulted regarding the evidentiary timeline caution that the process may extend beyond the initial 84-day window, given the need to compare DNA with samples from Arrieta’s relatives and to account for the many strands of evidence that require careful correlation.
The police file also lists twenty witnesses and CCTV footage used to link events with Sancho. According to the authorities, a man purchased knives and black-green bags from a Koh Phangan store before the murder, an item of interest for investigators. In public statements, Surachate asserted that autopsy findings pointed to a fatal sequence in which Arrieta was harmed after an altercation, though final determinations must be supported by the complete body of testimony and evidence.
Autopsy
Nevertheless, specialists consulted by media outlets caution that drawing definitive conclusions can be difficult in cases where body parts are dispersed in water or sequestered in inaccessible locations. The absence of some critical fragments — such as a remaining rib cage or vital organs — complicates certainty in the autopsy report, and some parts were found later in marine environments or other sites. Yet, officials maintain that the available material supports a factual account that will be included in the final report for the prosecutor’s office.
Sources close to the investigation indicate that the final report will be forwarded to the prosecutor, with legal teams for the defendant prepared for ongoing developments. If the 84-day window has not expired, the authorities may pursue additional evidence or request further expert analysis as needed. Sancho’s family has retained Bangkok-based lawyers who advise that only a Thai attorney can effectively participate in the judicial process on the defendant’s behalf. A prominent local counsel, known to the public as Khun Anan, has met with Sancho on multiple occasions and has access to a preliminary police report that will be reviewed by the court as the case proceeds.