- Prosecutors in Thailand introduced indictments in opposition to a former nationwide police chief for impeding authorized motion in opposition to Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya.
- Yoovidhya is accused of a 2012 hit-and-run crash that killed a Bangkok police officer.
- He allegedly drove a Ferrari that hit the officer’s bike, ensuing within the officer’s loss of life, earlier than fleeing to his household’s luxurious compound.
Prosecutors in Thailand introduced Tuesday they’ll indict a former nationwide police chief on fees of impeding authorized motion in opposition to an inheritor to the Crimson Bull power drink fortune who was accused of killing a Bangkok police officer in a 2012 hit-and-run.
A number of authorities officers and law enforcement officials have been accused of a conspiracy to assist Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya escape justice by fleeing overseas in a case broadly held up for instance of how the wealthy and well-connected take pleasure in impunity in Thailand.
Vorayuth is the grandson of Chaleo Yoovidhya, one of many creators of the globally well-known Crimson Bull model. Forbes journal places the household’s web price at $20 billion.
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Somyot Poompanmoung, the police chief in 2014-15, and different suspects have been charged with abuse of energy in an effort to help a person to keep away from prosecution. Somyot was accused by the Nationwide Anti-Corruption Fee final yr of involvement in tampering with proof by altering the report of the pace of the automotive that Vorayuth was allegedly driving on the time of the accident.
Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, whose grandfather co-founded the power drink firm Crimson Bull, walks to get in a automotive as he leaves a home on April 5, 2017, in London. Prosecutors in Thailand introduced on Tuesday they’ll indict a former nationwide police chief on fees of impeding authorized motion in opposition to Yoovidhya. (AP Picture/Matt Dunham, File)
The Workplace of the Lawyer Basic stated it additionally will indict seven different folks together with law enforcement officials, a lawyer, an engineering specialist and a former deputy lawyer basic in relation to the case.
Vorayuth was believed to be on the wheel of a Ferrari that struck the again of a visitors policeman’s bike on a most important Bangkok highway. The officer, Wichean Klunprasert, was flung from his motorcycle and died on the scene. The automotive sped off however police adopted a path of oil and brake fluid to the Yoovidhya household’s luxurious compound on a close-by facet highway.
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Wichean’s household have instructed Thai media that they obtained compensation of $83,000 from the Yoovidhya household in alternate for them not pursuing additional authorized motion.
For years Vorayuth prevented courtroom by not turning as much as meet prosecutors. A warrant in opposition to him was lastly issued in 2017, just a few days after he had left Thailand. His Thai passport was later revoked. In the meantime, virtually all fees in opposition to him have expired because of the statute of limitations. The final remaining cost — inflicting loss of life by reckless driving — will expire in 2027.
Regardless of the authorized threats hanging over him, together with a Crimson Discover issued by Interpol, Vorayuth has managed to guide a busy globetrotting life, flying in non-public Crimson Bull jets to attend Formulation One races, snowboarding in Japan and cruising in Venice, amongst different actions. His persevering with jet-set way of life provoked widespread public anger when it was revealed by an Related Press investigation.
His present whereabouts stay unknown.
