Bangkok, October 25th - Prosecutors on the Thai island of Koh Samui presented their report to the court on Wednesday accusing Spaniard Daniel Sancho of premeditated murder. The police on Koh Phangan had already made the same accusation.
The court announced that the public prosecutor's office maintains the same charges against the suspect: that of the premeditated murder of the Colombian Edwin Arrieta and that of attempting to conceal the crime.
The charges will be read to the defendant in a closed court hearing on Thursday, where he is expected to enter a plea.
According to the court, if you do not have hired your own lawyer, you will be assigned a public defender.
The 29-year-old has been without a lawyer in Thailand - where he can only be defended by a Thai citizen - since September 7, after his famous father Rodolfo Sancho withdrew from the services of Thai lawyer Anan Chuayprabat due to "disagreements".
The court must now appoint a judge for the case and set trial dates.
Sancho has been in custody in Samui prison since August 7, two days after he was arrested in neighboring Koh Phangan, where he confessed to the murder and dismemberment of the Colombian surgeon.
The Thai Penal Code provides for the death penalty for crimes such as premeditated murder, although this is usually commuted to life imprisonment.
On the other hand, the defendant's confession and cooperation could contribute to a reduction in sentence.
Police handed their report to prosecutors on October 3 after two months of investigating the crime, which took place on August 2 on Koh Phangan.
Source: La Prensa Latina
Update: Hearing postponed
The provincial court on Koh Samui has postponed the trial against the Spanish chef.
Daniel Jeronimo Sancho Bronchalo, 29, was brought to court at 9 a.m. to face charges of murder and dismemberment of the body of Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta, 44. However, the hearing was adjourned to November 13 after he requested a Spanish interpreter as he does not speak English fluently.
The hearing was initially postponed until 13.30:XNUMX p.m. during which the court organized an online interpreter. However, Sancho asked for a personal interpreter, fearing that long-distance communication could lead to inaccuracies.
The hearing will now take place on November 13th at 9am with the help of an interpreter provided by the Spanish Embassy.