Red Bull heir hit-and-run trial set to last seven months

The trial concerning the alleged mishandling of the 2012 fatal hit-and-run case involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya has been set for a seven-month duration by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.

Eight defendants, including former national police chief Police General Somyot Poompanmoung and former deputy attorney-general Nate Naksuk, appeared in court yesterday to enter not guilty pleas. They face multiple charges, notably dereliction of duty, with a primary focus on the alteration of the recorded speed of the Ferrari driven by Vorayuth, which resulted in the dismissal of his arraignment for reckless driving causing a fatality.

The court emphasised that the trial would span seven months, shorter than the usual one-year period, due to significant public interest. It assured fairness to all parties and urged strict adherence to the trial schedule to ensure a speedy resolution.

Defendants, their legal teams, and prosecutors were instructed to avoid media interactions that could sway public opinion or influence the trial process until its conclusion.

Prosecutors presented evidence comprising 30,000 pages of documents and 21 individual and material witnesses. The examination of evidence is set to commence on December 3.

The eight defendants were formally charged on August 29 following the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) findings that the hit-and-run case was severely mishandled.

Bail was granted to the defendants with the condition that they cannot leave the country without court permission.

Vorayuth crashed his Ferrari into a motorcycle ridden by Police Senior Sergeant Major Wichian Klanprasert in the early hours of September 3, 2012, in Bangkok’s Thong Lor area. Instead of stopping to assist the victim, then in his early 20s, Vorayuth fled the scene, dragging the victim’s body for approximately 200 metres and failing to report the incident to police.

After an extended investigation, three charges were brought against him, but Vorayuth has yet to face justice. He fled the country in 2017 after multiple missed court appearances.

Several charges against him have since been dropped, including a speeding charge that expired in 2013 and a charge of failing to assist an accident victim, which expired in 2017, reported Bangkok Post.

The remaining charge against Vorayuth, causing death by reckless driving, carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and expires in 2027.