A Spanish citizen, Daniel Sancho, has been sentenced to life in prison by a Thai court for the murder of Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta on Koh Pha-ngan. Sancho, a YouTube chef and the son of Spanish actors, was found guilty of premeditated murder, concealing a body, and destroying the victim’s passport. Despite a death sentence being initially given, it was commuted to life imprisonment due to Sancho’s cooperation.
Ordered to pay €106,000 to Arrieta’s family, Sancho confessed to dismembering the body but denied premeditated murder, claiming self-defense. Trash collectors found body parts in a fertilizer sack before Sancho reported Arrieta missing. The police linked the men, leading to Sancho’s arrest and interrogation.
The case may still be appealed, with his father vowing to fight. Stay updated with the latest news by subscribing to our weekly newsletter for more English-language coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition.