Crime

Hit-and-run charges against Red Bull heir “Boss” Yoovidhya dropped

Published

9 months ago

Friday, July 24, 2020

Jack Burton

Hit-and-run charges against Red Bull heir “Boss” Yoovidhya dropped | Thaiger

PHOTOS: SCMP

In a shock ending to a case which has dragged on for years, charges against Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, in a 2012 hit and run incident – one that resulted in a police officer’s death – have been dropped. Vorayuth is heir to the Red Bull fortune and a member of one of Thailand’s wealthiest families.

The Office of the Attorney General of Thailand made the decision to stop pursuing the charges against Yoovidhya in a court of law, resulting in Thai police reportedly dropping the charges.

As a spokesman for the Royal Thai Police told CNN this morning that the department has followed the decision of the Attorney General’s office and revoked the warrant for Yoovidhya’s arrest. The deputy head of Bangkok’s Thonglor police station, also reportedly confirmed the revocation of the arrest warrant to the associated press.

For years, Yoovidhya had an Interpol “red notice”, meaning a worldwide request for his arrest pending extradition, but the notice mysteriously disappeared from the Interpol website earlier this year and no explanation has been given. Interpol declined to discuss individual cases but told the Bangkok Post that generally a published notice is removed from its website if “the suspect has been arrested and extradited or died, the country which requested it has withdrawn its request, the judicial authorities in the country behind the notice have withdrawn the national arrest warrant against a suspect, the notice is the subject of an appeal or the notice has been cancelled or the status of the notice has changed from public to restricted”.

35 year old Boss had been facing charges of speeding, hit-and-run and reckless driving causing death. They relate to the 2012 incident in which Boss, driving a black Ferrari, hit a police officer and allegedly fled the scene, after dragging the officer for some distance. The officer later died. Boss allegedly admitted to driving the vehicle but claimed that the police officer had cut in front of him. The case caused widespread outrage in Thailand. Boss was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Authorities claimed they had been searching for Boss, who missed at least 8 court appearances over at least 5 years before managing to flee the country. Officially, Boss has been “missing” for years, although he has been spotted in public numerous times in London and elsewhere. Thai police claim they have been trying to find him.

Boss is the son of Thailand’s second richest man and the grandson of the founder of Red Bull. His father’s estimated wealth is in the billions of dollars, according to Forbes magazine.

Red Bull has not released a public statement.

Hit-and-run charges against Red Bull heir

SOURCES: Reuters |Bangkok Post | The Pattaya News

📱 Download our app on Android or iOS for instant updates on your mobile
📧 Subscribe to our daily email newsletter
👍 Like/Follow us on Facebook
🔔 Subscribe to or Join our YouTube channel for daily video updates

News Categories: Crime Thailand

7 Comments

Toby Andrews

Friday, July 24, 2020 at 10:44 am

Ah Vorayuth a member of one of Thailand’s wealthiest families was innocent all the time then?
So he need not have missed all those 8 court summonses and fled abroad for years.
Students, don’t buy Red Bull.

Reply
- Maverick
  
  Friday, July 24, 2020 at 12:38 pm
  
  It’s how Thai justice works family would prefer this than send him to jail – does not meet the sense of Justice that we believe in where we are from – but it’s not uncommon in poor countries . The wife of an American Servicemen escaped justice in the UK after killing a teenage on his motorbike and escaped under diplomatic immunity – which is worse ?
  
  Reply
  - Truth B Told
    
    Friday, July 24, 2020 at 3:45 pm
    
    Not an American serviceman, a diplomat. If it were a serviceman’s wife she probably would not have escaped justice.
    
    Reply
    - charles
      
      Friday, July 24, 2020 at 5:38 pm
      
      her husband was a civilian intelligence analyst (probably CIA)she cannot claim diplomatic immunity as a spouse. UK asked Trump to send her back he refused.
      It’s not just 3rd world countries, Western countries do the same sort of thing with anyone that is wealthy or connected
      
      Reply
Marino

Friday, July 24, 2020 at 1:14 pm

I used to spend my vacation (and money) in Thailand for 10 years. The rule of law is not existent. I will not spend my vacation there. So sorry, because I love Thailand, I love Thai people and Thai culture.

Reply
rinky stingpiece

Friday, July 24, 2020 at 2:27 pm

You can’t change Thailand, just like you can’t change China.
What you can do, is stop buying and supporting Red Bull in your own country, just like you can stop buying and supporting Huawei. They can choose their own path, and we can choose ours. It’s up to them what kind of country they want to be and up to us how we treat and regard them in response.

I agree about the Sacoolas point, I hope Mr Raab mentioned it to Mr Pompeo, who doesn’t seem to understand artcle 32 of the 1961 Vienna Convention (Treaty) regarding immunity.

Reply
Jack

Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 1:38 pm

RIP justice system in my country. I don’t believe in it anymore.

Reply

Up Next

Destitute former teen star found dead in Chon Buri – VIDEO

Don't Miss

4 pregnant women among 32 human trafficking victims dumped in forest in southern Thailand

Jack Burton

Jack Burton is an American writer, broadcaster, linguist and journalist who has lived in Asia since 1987. A native of the state of Georgia, he attended the The University of Georgia's Henry Grady School of Journalism, which hands out journalism's prestigious Peabody Awards. His works have appeared in The China Post, The South China Morning Post, The International Herald Tribune and many magazines throughout Asia and the world. He is fluent in Mandarin and has appeared on television and radio for decades in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Crime

Immigration police arrest Frenchman on drug charges, 3 other foreigners for overstay

Published

1 week ago

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Thaiger

Immigration police arrested a French man who was allegedly involved in a crime network who allegedly smuggled cannabis, and arrested 3 other foreigners on overstay charges. Police say the crime network sold cannabis to foreigners living in tourist cities in Thailand.

Officers say they suspect there are more people involved in the alleged smuggling operation on the Eastern seaboard, which includes Chon Buri and Rayong. Police are now launching an investigation.

Police were tipped off earlier this year about an alleged French gang selling cannabis to tourists. Apparently, the drug suspects would rent rooms to store the cannabis and frequently change locations. Foreigners had rented a room off a soi in Bangkok, but the manager noticed they were acting suspicious. No one appeared to actually be living in the room and people would stop by the room for less than an hour, the manager told police.

Police arrested a man who was stopping by the room. Officers say the 28 year old, identified as Samy, had a suitcase filled with dried cannabis and scales. He faces charges for possession and distribution of a Category 5 narcotic.

The police went to the man’s apartment in the Charoen Nakhon area and arrested 2 French nationals, ages 27 and 28, and a 29 year old woman from the UK for overstaying their visas. Police say they had thrown cannabis and smoking equipment out the window before officers entered the room.

SOURCE: Thai Visa

Crime

Thailand hoping to be upgraded to a Tier 1 nation in anti-human trafficking efforts

Published

1 week ago

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Ann Carter

Thailand hoping to be upgraded to a Tier 1 nation in anti-human trafficking efforts | Thaiger

Stock photo via Flickr

Thailand is hoping its newest anti-human trafficking report will earn an upgrade from the US from Tier 2 to Tier 1. The report was submitted to the Washington’s Trafficking in Persons Report. Deputy government spokeswoman, Rachada Dhnadirek, said the government is ready to be upgraded after remaining on Tier 2 for 3 years in a row. Those nations who fall on the Tier 2, are deemed to not be fully complying with the minimum standards set out in the US’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Those on the Tier 2, however, are supposed to be making efforts to comply with the minimum standards.

Before 2018, Thailand was placed in Tier 3, which is for nations who don’t fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making efforts to do so. Then, Thailand was upgraded to Tier 2 after making progress compared to the previous year.

Rachada says Thailand submitted the 2020 TIP Report on February 2 and a report on progress in its anti-human trafficking operations from January to March of this year to the US embassy on April 3. The data includes the number of arrests and punishments for human-trafficking offences. Thailand also has created a new plan, making it the first in Asia to introduce such a plan. That plan is called the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.

Rachada says now Thailand is processing human trafficking cases more quickly by shortening the investigation time to 70 days as of last year. In 2015, the investigation time was 118 days. She says the country has also set up centres to help LGBT human-trafficking victims as well as helping migrant workers with work-related issues.

Thailand has also introduced the PROTECT-U app for smartphones in which human-trafficking victims can access protection and launch complaints in 7 different languages. The app was developed by the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.

SOURCE: The Phuket News

Crime

Phuket man shot by off-duty police officer now paralysed

Published

1 week ago

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Ann Carter

Phuket man shot by off-duty police officer now paralysed | Thaiger

Phuket Police Station / Google Maps

A 25 year old Phuket man who was allegedly beaten and shot by an off-duty, drunken police officer, will never walk again as he remains paralysed in the hospital. The news, according to doctors at Vachira Phuket Hospital, comes after Aroon Thongplab, was shot from a close range, with the bullet hitting his spine.

The man was a noodle vendor and was collecting a bowl from a customer on Bangla Road when he was allegedly shot by Pornthep Channarong of the Phuket Provincial Police at around 6am. Doctors told his wife about his prognosis after he woke up from a coma and underwent surgery to increase his prospects of being able to sit up. His wife, who is only known by her surname as Kulthida, told The Phuket News that she received news that he would never walk again.

“He cannot feel or move the lower part from his waist. Doctors just gave him spine surgery last week, so that he can sit. However, the doctors cannot assure that the surgery will work. We have to wait to see if his recovery goes well along with physiotherapy.”

Pornthep was discharged from the Royal Thai Police less than a day after he allegedly shot the noodle vendor. Now, he is facing charges of attempted murder, firing a weapon in a public area, and carrying a firearm in a public area without a necessary reason. But those charges have come slowly, according to Kulthida.

“I have already asked Patong Police, and they told me that at this stage the report to file (with the public prosecutor) is about 90% complete. I am also waiting for a notice from the court. Today, officers from Region 8 Police came to the hospital to question Aroon, but he has not been able to speak… I asked them about the bail conditions, and they told me that the suspect is still in jail.”

The Phuket Provincial Court is allowing Pornthep to go out on bail, despite the Royal Thai Police asking the court to keep in locked up.

SOURCE: The Phuket News