Asia-Pacific

Thailand to seek arrest warrant for heir to Red Bull fortune

Vorayuth Yoovidhya charged over 2012 hit-and-run that caused death of policeman

A file image of Vorayuth ‘Boss’ Yoovidhya, whose grandfather co-founded energy drink company Red Bull. Police in Thailand are seeking an arrest warrant for him in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident in 2012. Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP.

Fri Apr 28 2017 - 09:26

Thailand is to seek the arrest of an heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune after he failed to meet prosecutors over an alleged hit-and-run that killed a police officer five years ago, the country's attorney general said.

The case has raised questions about whether the Thai justice system favours the rich and famous, allowing them to break the law with impunity.

Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya missed prosecutor orders to report to court on Thursday, the eighth time he has missed a summons since legal proceedings against him began last year.

Department of Southern Bangkok Criminal Litigation’s chief Sutthi Kittisupaporn (C) talks to the media about the case of Vorayuth ‘Boss’ Yoovidhya. Photograph: Narong Sangnak/EPA.

Mr Vorayuth was charged with speeding, hit-and-run and reckless driving that caused the death of the policeman in 2012.

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"He sent a letter requesting to move the appointment but he can't do this again," said Suthi Kittisuppaporn, director general of the attorney general's Department of Southern Bangkok Criminal Litigation.

The Office of the Attorney General said in a televised statement it would seek an arrest warrant for Mr Vorayuth.

“If we wait until the end of the business day and he doesn’t show up we will consider this deliberate evasion,” Somnuek Siangkong, spokesman for the office, told reporters. “We will then ask police to seek an arrest warrant from the court.”

Attempts by Reuters to reach a lawyer for the accused went unanswered.

Energy drink

Mr Vorayuth is a grandson of the late Chaleo Yoovidhya, creator of the Kratin Daeng, or Red Bull, energy drink.

Mr Chaleo (88) was listed as the third richest person in Thailand at the time of his death in 2012, with an estimated net worth of US$5 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

His grandson, Mr Vorayuth, who has spent much of the past five years abroad, including in London and Singapore, according to social media posts, has previously cited work commitments abroad as reasons for not showing up in court.

Reuters was unable to confirm Mr Vorayuth’s whereabouts but some outlets reported he was in Britain.

In 2012, Mr Vorayuth allegedly crashed his Ferrari into a policeman on a motorcycle in Bangkok’s upscale Thonglor neighbourhood. He is accused of fleeing the scene, dragging the officer’s body for several dozen meters with his car as he did so.

Mr Vorayuth’s speeding charge expired a year after the collision. The charge of hit-and-run carries a penalty of up to six months in jail and expires in September while the reckless driving charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years of jail and expires in 10 years, if left unchallenged.

Reuters

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