The dramatic life of Thitisan “Joe Ferrari” Utthanaphon came to a tragic end on Friday night when the disgraced former policeman was discovered dead in Bangkok’s Klong Prem prison.
The Corrections Department has stated that his death was a suicide, but his family remains skeptical. His mother has vowed not to cremate his body until she receives what she considers “justice.”
A Promising Career Turned Dark
Thitisan was once a rising star within the police force, reaching the rank of colonel and police superintendent by the age of 41. With his success came enormous wealth, including a collection of luxury supercars, until his assets were seized under suspicion of corruption.
The Crime and Incarceration
Nicknamed “Joe Ferrari” for his lavish lifestyle, Thitisan was convicted in 2021 for torturing a drug suspect to death. Sentenced to life in prison, he spent three years behind bars before his name resurfaced in headlines following reports of trouble in prison.
According to his family, Thitisan had been mistreated after requesting that a fellow inmate refrain from smoking near his cell due to health concerns. The inmate, identified only as “S,” allegedly incited animosity toward him, which in turn led to reported abuse by prison guards.
His family claims that on January 8, Thitisan was physically assaulted by a senior prison guard overseeing Zone 7. Shortly thereafter, he was moved to an isolation cell for alleged disciplinary violations.
Fearing for his safety, Thitisan instructed his lawyer to file a police complaint on January 13, alleging that he had been threatened with violence. Medical reports reportedly supported his claims of physical abuse, yet police requests to interview him were ignored by the Corrections Department.
The Mysterious Death
His mother had pleaded for assistance just weeks before his passing, expressing concern over his declining health. Nevertheless, on Friday night, prison officials reported finding him dead in solitary confinement.
An initial autopsy by the Central Institute of Forensic Science concluded that he had hanged himself using a towel. However, his family immediately requested a second autopsy to verify the cause of death.
Amid growing scrutiny, the prison guard accused of assaulting Thitisan has been transferred while an investigation is underway.
Justice or Karma?
Thitisan’s case has sparked mixed reactions. Some see his death as an act of karma finally catching up with him, given that he was serving a life sentence for suffocating a drug suspect with a plastic bag during an interrogation in Nakhon Sawan. Although he claimed the act was meant to extract information, many believe it was a failed extortion attempt.
Others argue that no matter his past crimes, he still deserved protection under human rights laws and that his death warrants a thorough investigation.
A Life of Power and Wealth
Born and raised in Bangkok, Thitisan attended the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School before enrolling at the Royal Police Cadet Academy, where he graduated in 2003. He quickly rose through the ranks in the Narcotics Suppression Division, leading high-profile operations that resulted in the confiscation of criminals’ assets, including luxury cars.
His career brought him substantial financial rewards, allowing him to amass extraordinary wealth despite his modest police salary of 43,330 baht per month in 2021. Authorities were baffled by his ownership of a lavish Bangkok mansion and a collection of supercars, including a Lamborghini Aventador worth 47 million baht—the first of its kind in Thailand.
Thitisan was also well known for his connections and personal life, having dated multiple high-profile celebrities. At the time of his arrest in 2021, he was in a relationship with a TV host whose father was the chief of Provincial Police Region 6.
Despite his influence, his downfall was swift. Investigations into his vast wealth led to the National Anti-Corruption Commission ordering the seizure of assets valued at over 1.35 billion baht.
A Tragic End
In 2022, Thitisan was convicted of the brutal killing of a drug suspect and sentenced to life in prison. His sudden death on Friday has left some believing justice has been served, while his family mourns the loss of a man they had hoped would one day be rehabilitated.
