Attorney General still plans to indict Red Bull Heir, cites new ‘evidence’
Today, The Office of Attorney General reaffirmed the long-gestating indictment against Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, heir to the Redbull empire. The OAG cites new evidence against Vorayuth for allegedly killing a police officer in a hit and run incident. The “new evidence” was not specified.
The plans to still indict Vorayuth were announced by the deputy spokesperson for the OAG, Prayut Phetkun, as inquires mount in reference to a news article “deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Police has announced that the public prosecutor has an opinion not to prosecute Mr Vorayuth Yoovidhya, or Boss for his hit-and-run case”.
The spokesperson says the shared article was “old news” from last July. Prayut says on that occasion, Deputy Attorney-General Nate Naksuk felt the energy drink heir shouldn’t be sued based on old evidence. Now, however, the spokesperson remains committed to prosecuting Vorayuth. Prayut tells the public to be careful about what they share online as it may result in confusion toward relevant authorities.
Previously, 3 charges were lodged against Vorayuth, but only 2 remain active
Charge 1: Drug use. Cocaine was allegedly found in Vorayuth’s system. Police say they did not originally press this charge because the suspect’s dentist said he used cocaine as part of medical treatment. Although this could not be supported with any documents and a spokesperson said it was just a “verbal explanation“.
The statute of limitations for this charge expires on September 3, 2022.
Charge 2: Reckless driving causing the death of Pol Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert. The incident happened on September 3 2012. The charge stands until 2027.
The Red Bull heir is currently on the lam. The Royal Thai police are looking for him and issued a warrant on August 25, 2020, through the Bangkok South Criminal Court. A Red Notice was issued by Interpol last October.
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
Thailand’s not the only country that has a legendary beverage company associated with a car accident/death linked to an heir. In 1983, Budweiser, sometimes known as the “King of Beers” saw an heir, August Busch IV. Busch, brush off homicide charges despite the Pima County Attorney’s Office acknowledging August was the driver of the car that crashed and led to the death of Michele Frederick. The same heir avoided prosecution when a girlfriend overdosed in his house years later.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
