Red Bull Boss: Time is running out to prosecute rich scion - Will justice prevail in the end?

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

Thai media Daily News was in wistful mood as they contemplated another year in which the Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya remains on the run.

 

2022 will be another year in which the fourth of five charges sees its statute of limitations run out.

 

That will leave just one. 

 

The statute of limitations is the period in which a case can be brought to court.

 

Back on September 3rd 2012 Boss who was speeding drove his grey Ferrari into Sen Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert who was riding a motorcycle in the Thong Lo area of Bangkok, the Thai capital. 

 

The policeman - 47 when he died -  was dragged several hundred meters under the wheels of the supercar. 

 

Boss has not been prosecuted for anything and has been on the run since 2017 often "hiding" in plain sight on the Formula 1 circuit.

 

An Interpol Red Notice to 195 countries is out - but this is rather toothless allowing the Thai authorities to sit back and wait.

 

And wait and wait and wait.....

 

Already three charges have run out:

 

Speeding - one year statute - finished.

 

Negligent driving causing damage - one year - run out.

 

Not stopping to give assistance or reporting an accident - 5 years - run out

 

Two remain on the books.

 

The ten year statute of limitations on taking cocaine runs out on September 3rd this year.

 

After that only the most serious charge - negligent driving causing death will remain.

 

That has a 15 year life span and so runs out on September 3rd 2027.

 

 

Daily News said that the case has been remarkable and fascinating in all its twists and turns over the years. 

 

From the alleged involvement in law breaking from the Thai police and witness tampering to the dropping then reinstatement of charges by PM Prayuth Chan-ocha after a public outcry.

 

To the investigations into senior lawyers and police corruption that is still ongoing.

 

At the heart of the case is the notion that the rich and famous - celebrities - can do what they want and literally get away with anything. 

 

The media ended their article saying that justice could still prevail.

 

But time is running out and the Thai authorities will hopefully take the last few chances available for that justice to be served. 

 

Sadly, many will be saying that is a forlorn hope, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

We shall probably still be reading stories about Red Bull Boss up until September 2027 - when he'll be free to return to Thailand if he so pleases. 

 

Health insurance plans that meet the long stay visa requirements

 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-01-05

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[anchadian]

Continuing report which will go nowhere.

 

Sad.

[jacko45k]

Will justice prevail in the end?

 

No......

[smedly]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

2022 will be another year in which the fourth of five charges sees its statute of limitations run out.

I was under the impression that people could be charged and convicted in Thailand in their absence - a law that was changed years ago, if they chose not to be present then their problem

[Liverpool Lou]

19 minutes ago, smedly said:

I was under the impression that people could be charged and convicted in Thailand in their absence - a law that was changed years ago, if they chose not to be present then their problem

That was introduced about four yeas ago and usually only applies to politicians charged with corruption who have fled the country.  Defendants in criminal cases in Thailand have the right to be present at their trial and a trial and conviction in their absence could be overturned later.

[4MyEgo]

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

At the heart of the case is the notion that the rich and famous - celebrities - can do what they want and literally get away with anything. 

Just look around, you don't have to be a celebrity, all of them have, can and will continue to do what they want so as long as those taking the brown envelopes continue to accept them, and yes, a life is only worth as much as your prepared to pay in this instance.

 

[MRToMRT]

11 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Defendants in criminal cases have the right to be present at their trial and a conviction in their absence could be overturned later.

Sound like a good way forward. Do the trial without him and then let him come back (aye I know will not happen) and appeal.

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

16 minutes ago, MRToMRT said:

28 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Defendants in criminal cases have the right to be present at their trial and a conviction in their absence could be overturned later.

Sound like a good way forward. Do the trial without him and then let him come back (aye I know will not happen) and appeal.

What would be the point of holding an illegal trial resulting in a conviction that could not be upheld?   He wouldn't need to appeal!

[mikebell]

This Cause célèbre continues to be quoted round the world as evidence that Thailand is as bent as a nine-bob note.  Justice is for sale here.

[ikke1959]

In 9 years they can't solve the crime, or investigate, the investigators, and also a new committee to investigate the investigated investigators, and so on... never ending story....and in the end time has passed..and nothing happened

[baboon]

And what is the betting that he has been 'sneaking' into Thailand whenever he fancies?

[MRToMRT]

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What would be the point of holding an illegal trial resulting in a conviction that could not be upheld?   He wouldn't need to appeal!

I agree under the majority of circumstances BUT if a trial date is set, he has the right to attend. If he choses not to attend then the trial should (?) be able to go ahead. Similary earlier in this case his lawyers had to petition the court for a delay of trial based him not being able to attend due to a) illness and b) travel (thats my recollection anyway I have not checked that). 

They should try him in absentia in my view and then let his legal team fight it out and let the press report on it, so the poeple can see "justice" at work (whether his rights be impeded or not).

 

Of course it says with reason that I know nothing about the law. I know even less about Thai law but as everything else seems to be allowed by the judiciary and the government here (do we still have an emergency decree?), why not this? 

 

I presume the judiciary and government may not want him to stand trial for their own reasons whatever they may be. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

Thailand could ‘easily’ adjust its laws and commit to trail in absentia.

 

The elephant in the room.... Do they really want to ?

 

 

 

 

[Geoffggi]

Red Bull Boss: Time is running out to prosecute rich scion - Will justice prevail in the end?

 

In the eyes of the Hi-So society justice is currently being served - Sad but true !!!!!

[JeffersLos]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The ten year statute of limitations on taking cocaine runs out on September 3rd this year.

Quite an unfair charge anyway, given he only tested positive due to having just had a dentist appointment. 

[2long]

We all know the end result and SO MANY hours and pages have been wasted on this.

He will never face justice. Even if he goes behind bars, like Sorrayuth, Premchai and others, he will be moved to a hospital, then released early. That is not justice.

[metisdead]

A post with an off topic video has been removed. 

[WEBBYB808]

They could always North Korea it!

[drenddy]

I really don't understand why this story keeps going.

This guy will never face justice.

It has gone far too long.

Perhaps he's looking for another passport, EU passport, in case of regime change, but don't think he'll need it.

The family it's just too rich and big in Thailand.

Not gonna happend 

[Mr Meeseeks]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

An Interpol Red Notice to 195 countries is out

Do we have proof of this?

[bigupandchill]

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

A guy who tested positive for Cocaine drove a sports car at speed, hit a motorcyclist and killed him, dragged his body 100’s of meters down the road, fled the scene, pinned the blame on a member of domestic staff - then fled the country and has escaped justice for 9 years. 

 

That doesn’t paint a very clear picture of things ‘generally working pretty well’....

 

It does however paints a picture of corruption at the highest level where things work pretty well if you have lots of money and can pay off people in positions of power. 

He likely paid off the family to their satisfaction, brought great shame to a high profile thai family and has not been able to openly travel back to his home country - his actions surely had consequences.

[Mr Meeseeks]

10 minutes ago, bigupandchill said:

Not sure why you all think you can judge the way things are done here - generally things seem to be working pretty well, especially when compared to the dumpster fire that is the US at the moment.

I pay millions of Baht of taxes every year, that's why. 

[richard_smith237]

19 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

5 hours ago, webfact said:

An Interpol Red Notice to 195 countries is out

Do we have proof of this?

 

There does not appear to be a ‘current red notice’ for Vorayuth "Boss” Yoovidhya.

 

Someone with connections has rescinded it ?

 

 

https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-Red-Notices

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, bigupandchill said:

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

A guy who tested positive for Cocaine drove a sports car at speed, hit a motorcyclist and killed him, dragged his body 100’s of meters down the road, fled the scene, pinned the blame on a member of domestic staff - then fled the country and has escaped justice for 9 years. 

 

That doesn’t paint a very clear picture of things ‘generally working pretty well’....

 

It does however paints a picture of corruption at the highest level where things work pretty well if you have lots of money and can pay off people in positions of power. 

Expand  

He likely paid off the family to their satisfaction, brought great shame to a high profile thai family and has not been able to openly travel back to his home country - his actions surely had consequences.

But he has not faced the consequences of the justice system. 

 

Being inconvenienced is not quite the same has facing justice no matter the spin you wish to place on the situation. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 minute ago, bigupandchill said:

He likely paid off the family to their satisfaction, brought great shame to a high profile thai family and has not been able to openly travel back to his home country - his actions surely had consequences.

Consequences that allow him to continue his extravagant lifestyle with little impediment while the person he killed does not have that luxury.

 

He's been in and out of Thailand since 2012, even when warrants were out for his arrest, at least until 2017, and probably even after that too. 

[ArcticFox]

Given the foot dragging it sorta looks to be the plan.
What wins?  The SoL and the rich kid.  Justice?  Lol!

[RJRS1301]

Poor devil, finds it hard to come home, relegated to living in Euro. They could of course attempt to suspend or not renew his passport, that would then force him to atend an embassy and therefeore be on the soil of the Kingdom at the embassy he attends. He could then be arrested.

However I suspect the very higest office in the land  would not want this to happen.

Must be hard travelling incognito all the time, not being able to attend functions when dignitaries travel in case he offends them by being there. 

One must feel for him ????

Thr trials and tibulations of the young and sought after.

 

 

[worgeordie]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

his grey Ferrari

You should get time for that alone ....Grey

regards worgeordie

[ArcticFox]

27 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Do we have proof of this?

Find it?  I've looked.  There is none.

[RJRS1301]

1 minute ago, worgeordie said:

You should get time for that alone ....Grey

regards worgeordie

was it metallic grey?

sparkles in the moonlight?