An offer on the table. 30,000 euros and a favourable sentence. A citizen of Russian origin contacts Rodolfo Sancho. Daniel Sancho’s father is in charge of taking the lead in the young man’s defence strategy. He is accused of three crimes, the main one being the premeditated murder of Edwin Arrieta. A payment could solve all his problems. What is going on?
This information, revealed exclusively by ‘El Confidencial’, puts a new twist on the most media-covered case of recent years. Daniel Sancho was sentenced this past Thursday, August 29, to life imprisonment for the death of surgeon Edwin Arrieta. A forceful and clear sentence that has not left much room for the defense. The Koh Samui Court has completely bought the prosecution’s thesis.
Could everything have been changed? Rodolfo Sancho’s entourage denies that this offer was made. This is the opinion of Carmen Balfagón, the actor’s spokesperson and part of the team that is advising him on the case. But the information seems clear: a fraud that sought to profit from a father’s desperation.
The offer to get Daniel Sancho out of jail
According to the aforementioned media, a Thai woman contacted Rodolfo Sancho. She was a person who already knew the actor and was close to his entourage during the months he has been fighting the legal battle with his son’s case. It is this woman who transmits the offer to Daniel Sancho’s father. An initial payment of 30,000 euros was to be made by both him and his ex-partner, Silvia Bronchalo.
The aim was to use the alleged contacts of this Russian citizen in the Thai judiciary to obtain a favourable sentence. People were suspicious from the start. Not only was the amount requested by this alleged contact too low for such a high-profile case, but the lack of security throughout the operation suggested that it could be a scam.
The media reports that Sancho heard the offer, although it is unknown whether the family made any further contacts after the initial offer. Carmen Balfagón, a spokesperson for the family, denies any such action.It is absolutely false“There has never been an offer of that kind. If we had had one, we would have rejected it in the first minute,” he told ‘El Confidencial’.
Rodolfo Sancho’s legal team is very forceful against the rumors
Both Marcos García-Montes and Carmen Balfagón, after the verdict of the Thai court was announced, have been clear and forceful. No one has received anything, no one has bribed anyone. Both denied any kind of rumour that could be circulating about a possible purchase by the Thai authorities. As proof, the overwhelming sentence handed down by the Court, completely against the interests of Daniel Sancho and the version maintained by his defence.
“People have volunteered for everything here”Balfagón points out. “I know a lot of people, I know the best lawyer in Thailand, I don’t know what… we have thanked them and that’s it.” Daniel Sancho’s defense team had a very clear strategy and acted accordingly. They have, in fact, chosen a public defender to practice in Thailand. The guidelines were drawn up in Spain.
The role of the defense has been highly questioned in recent hours. Both the lawyers in charge of representing the Arrieta family and some professionals dedicated to the legal profession and the judiciary have stated that the strategy of Marcos García-Montes and his team was not the best for the interests of Daniel Sancho. Something that the lawyers have denied, visibly upset.
The next steps for Daniel Sancho
The verdict was clear. Daniel Sancho has been convicted of the three crimes of which he was accused. There is no room for doubt for the Koh Samui Court. The only prerogative they have granted him has been to avoid the death penalty. The cooperation that the accused had with the police and the Thai authorities has led the court to consider reducing part of the sentence. Finally, he has been sentenced to life imprisonment. But what steps does Rodolfo Sancho’s son have to take from now on?
The first measure is the transfer of prison. Although Daniel Sancho has requested to remain in Koh Samui prison, the judge has denied it. In this prison there are no sentences of more than 15 years. He must be transferred in the next few weeks to another centre. Daniel Sancho’s defence has already requested, apparently, a destination but it has not yet been approved. Sancho has no relatives on the island nor a point of support, so the choice is not based on proximity.
Meanwhile, the legal team is already preparing to appeal the verdict. They have sixty days to file an appeal. It is time to rethink what has happened and try to dismantle the Koh Samui Court’s verdict. It is not easy. The reasoning behind the verdict, although not yet known in detail, seems clear. The sentence has also already been reviewed by a higher court due to the importance of the sentence. If this appeal is not successful, they would still have a third chance in cassation. It is estimated that between the two a period of about eight months could pass, four per appeal.
Silvia Bronchalo, on the sidelines of her son Daniel’s defense
The leading voice in Daniel Sancho’s defense has always been focused on his father. From the first moment of his arrest, Rodolfo Sancho took matters into his own hands and was in charge of finding him a lawyer in Thailand. It was a first step that would end in the hiring of an entire legal team. Marcos García-Montes, as a lawyer, and criminologists Carmen Balfagón and Ramón Chipirrás have been at his side in recent months. They have planned the strategy that has been executed by a court-appointed lawyer from Thailand.
Silvia Bronchalo has had nothing to do with this whole process.. Daniel Sancho’s mother has been on the sidelines. Her role has been to accompany her son and visit him in prison. She has had no dealings with her ex-partner or the legal team. Her annoyance at this snubbing was expressed by her own lawyer. Bronchalo considered, as has been reported over the months, that the strategy being pursued was not the best. However, she had no say in these decisions. The relationship between Daniel Sancho’s parents is complex and distant.
Bronchalo has appealed the dismissal of the complaint he filed against Rodolfo Sancho for harassment, as reported by journalist Juan Luis Galiacho. Daniel Sancho’s mother denounced her son’s father for a series of messages he had sent her. However, the case did not prosper. What was clear is that there is no relationship of any kind between them.
