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Police Seize Assets of $37.8 Million From Former Cop Joe Ferrari
Authorities stated that a former police chief jailed for torturing and killing a drug suspect would have his assets worth 1.35 billion baht (US$37.8 million) seized by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Former police colonel Thitisan Utthanaphon, aka “Joe Ferrari” due to his taste in flashy cars, was given a life sentence in June after a case that shed light on police brutality and corruption within the Royal Thai Police force.
“His income from serving as a government official does not match his assets,” Niwatchai Gasemmongkol, spokesman for the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s Office, told the Bangkok Post.
He added that the committee agreed that he was “extremely wealthy” and that the government should seize his assets worth 1.35 billion baht (US$37.8 million).
Following his arrest, revelations about Thitisan’s lavish lifestyle and celebrity relationships went viral throughout Thailand.
According to anti-corruption investigators, he owned a luxury home in Bangkok and a fleet of 42 high-end vehicles, including a 54 million baht Lamborghini Aventador, all while earning a police superintendent’s salary of around 47,000 baht per month.
The death of Jirapong Thanapat, 24, was initially classified as an amphetamine overdose until a lawyer revealed the cause of death in a Facebook post.
Thitisan and six other officers were seen on video wrapping seven plastic bags around his head while questioning him and attempting to extort more than 200,000 baht, which led to his death.
The former chief of the Muang police station in Nakhon Sawan province surrendered to police after they raided his Bangkok mansion.
Thitisan claimed Jirapong’s death was an accident during a press conference following his surrender.
Thitisan’s sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment because he attempted to revive the suspect and paid for the family’s funeral expenses.
