**Former Thai Police Chief Found Dead in Jail Following Torture Conviction**

**The death of Thitisan Utthanaphon, a former Thai police chief sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, raises questions and triggers investigations amid claims of foul play from his family.**

Former Thai police chief Thitisan Utthanaphon, known as 'Joe Ferrari' due to his collection of luxury cars, has reportedly been found dead in his cell at a Bangkok prison where he was serving a life sentence for the torture and death of a drug suspect.

According to authorities, a preliminary autopsy suggested that Thitisan died by suicide. His demise comes three years after a viral video surfaced showing him and other officers wrapping a plastic bag around the head of a 24-year-old suspect, Jirapong Thanapat, during a police interrogation that led to Jirapong's death. The harrowing footage ignited widespread outrage over police brutality in Thailand.

In light of Thitisan's death, Thailand's justice ministry has initiated an investigation, particularly as his family has expressed skepticism regarding the circumstances surrounding his apparent suicide. They are demanding thorough inquiries into the validity of the claim, with further tests pending to confirm the exact cause of death.

Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong emphasized the need for transparency, urging prison officials to provide all evidence related to Thitisan's passing. Family members also voiced concern over a previous incident in which Thitisan allegedly faced abuse from prison staff. They claim they were barred from viewing his body, which was discovered in his cell on Friday.

Despite these claims, authorities have stated that no prison officer or inmate was responsible for Thitisan's death. Records indicate that Thitisan owned several top-of-the-line sports cars, including at least 42 luxury vehicles, which highlighted a stark contrast to his reported monthly salary of about $1,000 during his tenure.

In 2022, alongside Thitisan, five other police officers were sentenced to life in prison for their involvement in the murder. Following Thitisan's death, Jirapong's father remarked, "It's like he has paid off the karma he committed."

The Department of Corrections had noted they were investigating prior complaints from Thitisan's family regarding alleged bullying and abuse from prison staff earlier this year. According to prison officials, his family visited him on the day of his death, and there were no indications of distress noted by staff.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you can find help at BBC Action Line.