Thai PM vows justice over dropping of Red Bull heir hit-and-run case

 

FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha speaks to media members at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand June 6, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Wednesday his government would ensure justice prevails over a deadly 2012 hit-and-run linked to the heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune, amid public anger over the dropping of charges against him.

 

The Office of the Attorney-General and the national police dropped criminal charges against Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya last month, without providing a reason, stirring public outrage about Thailand's entrenched culture of impunity for the rich and well-connected.

 

Vorayuth had missed eight summonses to appear in court in connection with the killing of policeman Wichien Klanprasert, whose body was dragged for dozens of metres under a Ferrari sports car owned by Vorayuth, who was 27 at the time.

 

Authorities issued a warrant for his arrest five years after the incident and Vorayuth later left the country. His current whereabouts is unknown.

 

Prayuth said a committee had been formed to look at what led to the case being dropped but it would not interfere in the work of the attorney-general, police and court. The committee has 30 days to complete its task.

 

"This case is of great interest to the people and society so we must find the truth to see where the problems are," he said.

 

"We must fix these problems to ensure justice in Thai society without dividing it along social class lines," he said.

 

The Office of the Attorney-General and police said they were also looking into what led to the case being dropped.

 

Vorayuth had been accused of fleeing the scene of the crash. A family driver initially tried to take the blame but was later charged with giving a false statement to police.

 

Police have said the old case against Vorayuth had officially ended and could only be relaunched if relatives of the victim filed the case directly to a court, or if there were new witnesses or evidence.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Martin Petty)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-30

 

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Color me skeptical...

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Office of the Attorney-General and the national police dropped criminal charges against Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya last month, without providing a reason,

That's the junta mindset, not having to explain your actions.   That is why people feel the need to protest.    It is highly doubtful justice will be done.    

What is he going to do ,They dropped the case because of time passed.A few minor ones remain.Can he  get the charges back i don,t know unless he changes the law himself.just like brother and sister who got away.the sister has to wait a few years then that case may fold too like the brothers has

look, he was "transferred" already so justice was served, right?

Someone else wants their cut.

a committee?why?just let boss into the country and arrest him,u are the generalissimo,the police have proven corrupt and dishonest ,jail those responsible.its real simple.end of story,youve special powers use them,its a wonderful opportunity to be popular.dont let it go or the usual footdragging and not wishing to upset bent senior cops again,tonglor stations a fetid toilet we all know that,clean it.

I think Prawit should be in charge of this investigation he would keep a good watch on the situation.

2 minutes ago, Shuggy said:

Someone else wants their cut.

The Red Bull rat’s family donated about 300 million baht not so long ago as part of Prayut’s begging initiative asking rich people to help with the pandemic. 
 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Prayuth said a committee had been formed to look at what led to the case being dropped

Yea, there’s this simple dynamic called “ask and answer”. You ask and they answer. If they can’t or won’t give an answer, they should be prosecuted. You shouldn’t need more than 30 minutes to answer this question, let alone 30 days. 

If he weren't such a -------- I would almost feel sorry for him.  That family gave him billions of baht before the election.  Now he can't 'unbuy' himself and give the public the show of justice that they want without offending his masters!

if prayut vows justice i for one believe him. now we will find out who the real *boss* is.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Police have said the old case against Vorayuth had officially ended and could only be relaunched if relatives of the victim filed the case directly to a court, or if there were new witnesses or evidence.

 

So, did the family of the victim take a cut?

 

Of course, it shouldn't be too difficult (after 8 years) to find a "new witness" to swear he was out that night and, although he had had a few Red Bulls, he thought he saw a blonde farang driving the car......

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"We must fix these problems to ensure justice in Thai society without dividing it along social class lines," he said.

I have news for you general, it will take a hell of a lot more than one (probably bent) committee to fix the problems with the Thai justice system that we all know are deeply ingrained. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Prayuth said a committee had been formed to look at what led to the case being dropped but it would not interfere in the work of the attorney-general, police and court. The committee has 30 days to complete its task.

I don't think the committee will have to look very far plus if the government are not going to interfere in the case WHAT IS THE POINT ......................!!!

36 minutes ago, rupert the bear said:

a committee?why?just let boss into the country and arrest him.

Arrest him for what ?

To paraphrase a famous quote, If you want to shoot, shoot, don't just talk...

55 minutes ago, bristolgeoff said:

What is he going to do ,They dropped the case because of time passed.A few minor ones remain.Can he  get the charges back i don,t know unless he changes the law himself.just like brother and sister who got away.the sister has to wait a few years then that case may fold too like the brothers has

IMHO meaning that all laws providing for expiry of cases by time need to be totally cancelled and withdrawn from the laws of Thailand and never seen again.

 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

if relatives of the victim filed the case directly to a court

And risk their millions of blood money ... I think not

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai PM vows justice over dropping of Red Bull heir hit-and-run case

 

Uh-oh…there’s trouble over at Government House.

The general is still feeling cheated and disrespected by the skimpy, miserly 300 million the Yoovidhya family gave him. People are laughing at him behind his back...and he’s feeling more insulted by the day.

This is a clear warning. The General is demanding justice (as in justice for himself)....and justice for the General needs to come in the form of a dozen truckloads of cash.

 

Then everyone can make nice.

 

 

 

Edited July 30, 20206 yr by Hayduke

43 minutes ago, blazes said:

 

So, did the family of the victim take a cut?

 

Of course, it shouldn't be too difficult (after 8 years) to find a "new witness" to swear he was out that night and, although he had had a few Red Bulls, he thought he saw a blonde farang driving the car......

Read an article (Pretty sure it was on here) a couple of days ago that said 2 new witnesses (an Air Marshall & a “Mr J”) had come forward & they clearly remember the Ferrari was only doing 60-70kmh and the Police Officer swerved across 2 lanes in front of it.

 

No explanation why they didn’t come forward > 7 years ago.

 

Edit: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1175064-new-witnesses-key-to-charges-being-dropped-against-red-bull-‘boss’-thai-media/?do=findComment&comment=15660293

 

Edited July 30, 20206 yr by Mike Teavee

Does anyone believe a word this guy says anymore? He has consistently told lies for 7 years now. He has zero credibility and rules only through thinly veiled threats. Even the slowest of minds on this forum have worked him out by now.

Authorities merely paying lip service, as always, to addressing the real issues plaguing this society

Yes, because I'm sure he wasn't consulted before the decision was made in a matter involving one of Thailand's richest families who just happened to give his government 300 million baht...but he wouldn't interfere in such things, would he?

Edited July 30, 20206 yr by JCauto
Misspelling.

22 minutes ago, scorecard said:

IMHO meaning that all laws providing for expiry of cases by time need to be totally cancelled and withdrawn from the laws of Thailand and never seen again.

 

 

Thailand should have 2 sets of laws:

One set for the poor 

 

and one set .... no let me think. No laws for the very rich.

This would save a lot of tax-payer's money.

"Justice" will probably result in those that dropped the charges getting re-assigned. Nothing will happen to Red Bull Boy. 

2 minutes ago, petedk said:

Thailand should have 2 sets of laws:

One set for the poor 

 

and one set .... no let me think. No laws for the very rich.

This would save a lot of tax-payer's money.

 

How about three sets of laws:  for rich, for poor and for Thaksin.....

Quote

His current whereabouts is unknown.

Really?

 

I am sure I saw on the news yesterday where they filmed him entering a house (protected by bodyguards) and it sure looked like the UK to me. I wasn't really watching the news, but that caught my eye.

It wasn't an old clip as he looked considerably older and more mature than before.

47 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

Arrest him for what ?

How about murder. Breaking Bail conditions and fleeing the country. I am sure more could be added it isn't rocket science.

21 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

No explanation why they didn’t come forward > 7 years ago.

 

Edit: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1175064-new-witnesses-key-to-charges-being-dropped-against-red-bull-‘boss’-thai-media/?do=findComment&comment=15660293

 

You would have thought that the case been so high profile that these honest citizens would have gone straight to the police station and told there story. Instead lets wait for 7 years eh!

 

Even the most challenged can see that it has to be the biggest most stupidest lie going.

 

Make it a Big Joke project ...