Red Bull scion faces arrest warrant over hit-and-run

BANGKOK, September 3, 2013 (AFP) - Thai prosecutors on Tuesday sought an arrest warrant for the Ferrari-driving heir of the Red Bull empire after he failed to appear to face charges over a deadly hit-and-run.

Worayuth Yoovidhya, 28, is accused of colliding with a police officer riding a motorcycle, and dragging the body about 100 metres (330 feet) along a main road in Bangkok last year.

Prosecutors say they plan to indict him with charges of causing death by dangerous driving and fleeing the scene.
But charges of drink driving and speeding have been dropped.

Public prosecutor Ruecha Krairiksh said his office had sent a letter to police asking them to seek a court arrest warrant for the suspect, who did not appear before prosecutors on Monday.

He said his office would oppose bail as Worayuth had failed to appear five times.

Defence lawyer Thanit Buakhiew said that Worayuth was unable to attend court because he had fallen ill during a business trip to Singapore.

If convicted, Worayuth faces up to 10 years' imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving.

The hit-and-run -- and the suspect's no show -- has revived controversy in Thailand about a tradition of impunity for the kingdom's wealthy elite.

Worayuth's grandfather Chaleo Yoovidhya was one of Thailand's richest men thanks to the global success of the Red Bull empire that he co-founded with Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz in the 1980s.

Chaleo died in March 2012 aged 89.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-09-03

Drink driving has been dropped because he failed a drink/drugs test?

What a joke. If he had been a truck driving from Ubon he would be serving 10-20 as we speak.

Amazing Thailand.

Are the Red Bull F1 team aware of the amazing PR they are receiving in Asia? The BBC and The Guardian carried the story today.

It's called shutting the stable gates after the horse has bolted. Quite pathetic really!

i thought they found cocaine in his blood as well. Why drop any charges? The guy hit another man on a motorcycle, dragged him for 100 yards and left him for dead and then lied about it.

i guess there is no risk in lying to the police as that doesn't seem to be an issue.

I forsee a worsening 'illness' that prevents further travel, for a while at least

Will this be another BIB / DSI style " we are going to do this, we are going to do that " and that's about as far as it gets ?

Supose he likes it in Singapore and decides to stay for a while will Thailand ask he be denied permission to stay ? I suppose it won't matter too much as with his money and the family's clout he can move almost anywhere and he won't be the first.

So far the prosecution haven't exactly bust a gut to see justice done so why should they start now ?

lock him up !

Smart move by the police issue an arrest warrant after he has left the country,

plus maybe some pressure because its been on International news,

The whole thing is a disgrace,and happens to often in Thailand.

regards Worgeordie

He will never go to jail, the reckless driving charge will be dropped. Cause he isn't being charged 4 speeding and the hit and run charge will be get thrown out

Only 10 years for killing a police officer, leaving the scene of the crime and putting the blame on another innocent man, his chauffeur? 10 YEARS!!! He should be charged with homicide and locked up for life. These streets are not safe with people like him out there.

Drink driving has been dropped because he failed a drink/drugs test?

What a joke. If he had been a truck driving from Ubon he would be serving 10-20 as we speak.

Amazing Thailand.

Are the Red Bull F1 team aware of the amazing PR they are receiving in Asia? The BBC and The Guardian carried the story today.

When do you ever hear Red Bull Racing mention their Thai connection?

I doubt if most F1 fans even know about it.

Drink driving has been dropped because he failed a drink/drugs test?

What a joke. If he had been a truck driving from Ubon he would be serving 10-20 as we speak.

Amazing Thailand.

Are the Red Bull F1 team aware of the amazing PR they are receiving in Asia? The BBC and The Guardian carried the story today.

When do you ever hear Red Bull Racing mention their Thai connection?

I doubt if most F1 fans even know about it.

You don't and F1 fans have no idea that the little Red Bull boy is a killer on the loose.

Plus most Thais only know it as Krating Daeng.

Oh, come on for Christ sake, this is Thailand, not boloney land, how the hell with all your complaining are you going to change things? You can't even control your wives!

Will this be another BIB / DSI style " we are going to do this, we are going to do that " and that's about as far as it gets ?

Supose he likes it in Singapore and decides to stay for a while will Thailand ask he be denied permission to stay ? I suppose it won't matter too much as with his money and the family's clout he can move almost anywhere and he won't be the first.

So far the prosecution haven't exactly bust a gut to see justice done so why should they start now ?

Smart move by the police issue an arrest warrant after he has left the country,

plus maybe some pressure because its been on International news,

The whole thing is a disgrace,and happens to often in Thailand.

regards Worgeordie

I think he saw the wrist bands that said WWTD. What would Thaksin do? Run little man RUUUUNNN

Scion?

I think spawn, would be more appropriate.

did they stall long enough for him to get out of thailand?

This Red Bull hit and run cop killing case epitomizes the Thai double standard and pecking order. Why in the world would the drink driving charge be dropped? Why in the world would any charge be dropped in this case. The only questions about this case is was there or wasn't there "intent" to kill in the moments "after" impact and while dragging the body? This case has furthered the fact that Thailand's justice system is a circus and a sham. Everyone in the world knows this.

"He said his office would oppose bail as Worayuth had failed to appear five times."

And still out... what a joke.

If he stays out of Thailand for 15 years, the two last charges against him will be dropped and he can return to Thailand as a free man.

Considering he is facing possible 10 years in jail and with the current worldwide media attention, we might not see him back in Thailand for the next 15 years.

Not many believers in innocent until proven guilty here are there.

This Red Bull hit and run cop killing case epitomizes the Thai double standard and pecking order. Why in the world would the drink driving charge be dropped? Why in the world would any charge be dropped in this case. The only questions about this case is was there or wasn't there "intent" to kill in the moments "after" impact and while dragging the body? This case has furthered the fact that Thailand's justice system is a circus and a sham. Everyone in the world knows this.

Excellent comment... very true...

Not many believers in innocent until proven guilty here are there.

What ???? Are you okay????????? Guess you must be joking (I really hope so... otherwise go to the doctor quick!!!)

Read about the case. You do not need to be Sherlock Homes to crack this one....

Edited September 3, 201312 yr by btwretail

Thailand's elite have been relatively lucky that the country has avoided major political upheaval unlike it's neighbours, however the clock is now ticking on that too.

Incidents like this just add fuel to the fire for when it inevitably happens.

We expats should be thankful that incidents like this happen to warn us of the realities of this country when we get carried away on our extended holidays here.

Are the Red Bull F1 team aware of the amazing PR they are receiving in Asia?

Nope they're too busy announcing Mark Webber's replacement

Thailand's elite have been relatively lucky that the country has avoided major political upheaval unlike it's neighbours, however the clock is now ticking on that too.

Incidents like this just add fuel to the fire for when it inevitably happens.

We expats should be thankful that incidents like this happen to warn us of the realities of this country when we get carried away on our extended holidays here.

And expats and foreign tourists should never lose sight of the fact that Thailand is a very risky place for any foreigner. You are constantly at risk and defenseless.

This Red Bull hit and run cop killing case epitomizes the Thai double standard and pecking order. Why in the world would the drink driving charge be dropped? Why in the world would any charge be dropped in this case. The only questions about this case is was there or wasn't there "intent" to kill in the moments "after" impact and while dragging the body? This case has furthered the fact that Thailand's justice system is a circus and a sham. Everyone in the world knows this.

what the wf.told me those charges that have been dropped was because they have run out of time.

Scion?

I think spawn, would be more appropriate.

The journalist must have broken out the thesaurus. Scion is a word that I don't recall coming across before.

But yes, spawn would be a more appropriate description.

Now....brace yourself for the public outrage........any minute now.........ooh look, somtum.

He is a member of the Elite Class of Thailand who enjoy privilege and status beyond western comprehension. Nothing will happen. Time is on his side. TIT.

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

The silence from all politicians who squabble and stick their beaks in all over the place in every issue is deafening on this case. One would suspect they are fairly happy with such an ineffective legal system. This is the type of case that some person or party could some real headway in raising this type of case, but their silence is very telling. The main papers only paying lip service does not help either, i presume they have been given incentive to only provide minor coverage.