Hit-and-Run Case Seen as Reflection of Inequality in Thailand
By THOMAS FULLER

The New York Times

BANGKOK — The Bangkok policeman was fatally struck by a gray Ferrari, his body dragged down a darkened Bangkok street. In contrast to his sudden and brutal death 12 months ago, the Thai judicial process that has followed has been slow and labored.

After repeated postponements, Thai prosecutors said Monday that the man who has admitted to the hit and run, Vorayuth Yoovidhya, the grandson of the inventor of the Red Bull energy drink and the heir to one of Thailand’s greatest fortunes, failed to show up at an indictment hearing.

Prosecutors said they had dropped charges of speeding against him because the one-year statute of limitations runs out on Tuesday.

Mr. Vorayuth still faces two other charges, and prosecutors said they would issue a warrant for his arrest. But in a case that has been described as a test of whether the rich and influential in Thailand enjoy more leniency than others, critics say the system is so far coming up short.

Monday was the sixth time that Mr. Vorayuth failed to answer summonses at prosecutors’ offices.

Full story: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/world/asia/wealthy-thai-fails-to-show-for-hearing-over-hit-and-run.html?_r=0

-- The New York Times 2013-09-03

related story:
Red Bull heir Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya pleads illness, evades prosecutor
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/665341-red-bull-heir-vorayuth-boss-yoovidhya-pleads-illness-evades-prosecutor/

Monday was the sixth time that Mr. Vorayuth failed to answer summonses at prosecutors’ offices.

Almost unbelievable.

A genuine product of the environment is the delightful Mr. Vorayuth.

I bet he fools some people with that enchanting smile of his too. "he's such a nice person" etc.

It's a reflection of how bent the legal system is in Thailand.

Did anyone really think it would go any other way? TIT!

Sent from my GT-S5360B using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

This is just one in a long list of examples of inequality here where those and such as those can do anything they like and can literally get away with murder. I'm not referring to the Red Bull case as murder by the way

The system is unlikely to change any time soon as those who could effect change are those most likely to benefit from the current system so why would they want it to be anything else ?

After an article like that the NYT are in real danger of facing a law suite for tarnishing Thailands image.

Thailands cancerous culture of corruption rears it's ugly head yet again.

Terrible, how can he sleep at night, knowing what he done ???

Monday was the sixth time that Mr. Vorayuth failed to answer summonses at prosecutors’ offices.

The contempt and arrogance these people have/feel is simply unbelievable. Wake up Thailand, it's not too late to change things around.

I only wished that I was surprised. Justice and the legal system are two separate entities. The illegal deeds of the wealthy will be ignored and protected by the legal system, while the Thai police will have their photo in the local paper for chasing down petty street criminals, and profit themselves from organized crime. I have spoken to Thai people over the years about Thai cops and justice, few have expressed any confidence in either.

This is bad. It is bad because it is bad for the economy. A corrupt and heavy handed legal system is not conducive to a busy and competitive business sector. It is also bad, because it is bad for society and people. The cops harass and graft from the majority of the population, while pandering to the wealthy.

And is the Singaporean Governement planning to let him hide in Singapore just because he is one of the rest of foreign expats with money that the PAP government likes. The locals there should sya and do something.

I hope that this being on the World Stage and reported in the New York Times will get the attention of the Tourists and Thai's and hurt their "Image" on a world class way. The only way is to get their attention is through their pockets and the tourist dollars in Thailand.

Hurt Thailand's image? Seriously! Just one ordinary cop (dead) and a rich tycoon's own grandson off the hook... who cares? Well, I care! This case has made me extremely bitter against rich Thais. I've boycotted Red Bull and I encourage others to do the same. I wish the police or mafia would do something to that ... how difficult could it be?

Terrible, how can he sleep at night, knowing what he done ???

On a diet of cocaine and red bull, he probably doesn't sleep

How anyone can show even one drop off respect to pigs like this, god knows. Thailand should be ashamed.

All red bull products should be shunned, the guy and his father who is shielding him no doubt, should be hounded wherever they go. There should be large public cursing rituals, and black magic mumbo jumbo to invoke the ghost of the murdered policeman to chase them.

Is somchai the farmer man ran over a cop and dragged him down the street

there is no doubt in my mind he would never see the light of day again.

Shows a lack of a true legal system

How other cops can stand by and let this happen is sick

Thailand .... where money is the law and the three favorite words are me me me

Yeah its not really a 'reflection of the inequality' at all, every nation on Earth has inequality in spades. This is not about inequality, just as the 2010 riots and subsequent elections were never about inequality either although that was played out 24/7 as the main theme.

This is all about Corruption, pure and simple. Thailand needs a strong Law & Order PM, a real mad axeman who cuts up the rotting root&branch corruption wherever s/he sees it, and strikes terror into the hearts of larcenists and mafioso families etc. I'm not talking about small bribes at low level, I mean Thailand needs to clean house at the very top, and have powerful legal engine that doesn't play around at all, especially in cases agains rich+powerful people. It is not an untruth to say that until the day Thailand gets a PM who is 100% riding on a Corruption-busting platform AND s/he is totally day & night devoted to seeing it happen, this country will go NOwhere but DOWN.

So this confirms he was speeding.

As a foreigner, we can also talk about double standard, remember the young canadian Joel Del Pinto

who got shot by a drunken policeman. Well it just take 5 very long years to put the culprit in jail.

(well he was in fact already in jail for another crime)

Now that the speeding charge has been dropped, we can probably expect the following:

Since he was never convicted of speeding, he therefore was driving responsibly, and cannot not be convicted of a vehicular crime. It was just an unfortunate accident.

Only in Thailand, and every other country where the rich and powerful are treated differently than the masses.

Fuller of The new York Times , their specialist on Thailand reporting, is just getting around to this serious flaw in Thai society, culture and abuse of rule of law with impunity for the privileged class.

Only in Thailand?? Any one ever heard of " O.J. Simpson "

I think why this case upsets people is that the guilt is basically established 100% , he was speeding, he killed an on duty officer, he may have been high on drugs too etcetc. and he is evading justice regardless. This is different to OJ etc. who did actually show up in court, and while most ppl think he did it, it was not a certainty unlike this hit&run story. This isn't legal loopholes the kid is using really, he is using the corruption and laxness of the system to get away with murder.

Terrible, how can he sleep at night, knowing what he done ???

probably sleeps very well

The other question that beckons: Vorayuth was released on bail. How the hell was he able to leave the country? Bail usually is tied to the condition that one is not allowed to go abroad, or that a court must issue a formal permit if such overseas travel should be absolutely necessary.

According to his lawyer, Vorayuth has "no intention to escape". That can only mean one thing: he will not return to Thailand anytime soon. Mark my words.

This story is making it’s way around the world press, I have read it on a couple of news sites now. It’s a shame that even then it won’t be enough of an embarrassment to the Thai Gov to step in and do something. Until the world shames Thailand enough to change it will never happen. Unfortunately the majority of the population in Thailand believe this is how things work and don’t know any different. The only way things will change from with in, is with better education and that will take generations.

Terrible, how can he sleep at night, knowing what he done ???

Do you really think he is losing any sleep over this?

apples and oranges

Terrible, how can he sleep at night, knowing what he done ???

probably sleeps very well

Correct. In Thailand people are proud of their connections. It will give them a certain status. Getting away with murder is nothing to keep you awake at night. It's something to be proud of. It means that you have an untouchable status ie, a lot of respect.

Welcome to Thailand (and remember, ONLY money talks).

All red bull products should be shunned, the guy and his father who is shielding him no doubt, should be hounded wherever they go. There should be large public cursing rituals, and black magic mumbo jumbo to invoke the ghost of the murdered policeman to chase them.

Personally I do not know how to use Facebook but why do the young computer kids not get onto the social internet things and tell everyone - could even boycott the Red Bull product

Even though lots of people complain, in reality, they want to attain the same status as this p****.