Thread: Red Bull heir charged in Thai police officer's death

After a botched bogus suspect attempt, top cops promise justice

Red Bull heir's Ferrari hits Thailand cop, drags him blocks

People in Thailand often joke that prisons are reserved for the poor, because the rich and privileged tend to get away with murder.
By JOCELYN GECKER Associated Press

BANGKOK —

People in Thailand often joke that prisons are reserved for the poor, because the rich and privileged tend to get away with murder.

Popular online forums were filled with commentary Tuesday about the justice system's highest-profile test case in years, in which an heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune allegedly slammed his Ferrari into a policeman and dragged the officer's dead body along a Bangkok street before speeding away.

Police initially attempted to cover up the heir's involvement by arresting a bogus suspect - underlining what many people describe as selective law enforcement and the power of political connections.

But Bangkok's police commissioner, Comronwit Toopgrajank, then took charge of the investigation of Monday's accident. He suspended the district police superintendent for attempting to subvert the probe and vowed to deliver justice regardless of the defendant's family name.

"We will not let this police officer die without justice. Believe me," Comronwit said Tuesday. "The truth will prevail in this case. I can guarantee it."

Vorayuth Yoovidhya, the 27-year-old grandson of Red Bull creator Chaleo Yoovidhya, has admitted he was driving the Ferrari, but said the police officer's motorcycle abruptly cut in front of his vehicle.

Witnesses said they saw the sports car dragging the police officer dozens of meters (feet) as it sped from the crime scene.

Police followed oil streaks for several blocks to the gate of Vorayuth's family mansion. Photos of his charcoal gray Ferrari - with a crumpled front fender and a shattered windshield - were plastered on Thailand's front pages Tuesday.

He faces charges of causing death by reckless driving but was released on 500,000 baht ($15,900) bail.

His grandfather, Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhya, died in March at the age of 88. The Yoovidhya family was ranked the fourth richest in Thailand this year by Forbes magazine, with a net worth of $5.4 billion.

One commentator on the popular Pantip Web forum echoed the skepticism of many: "If you're rich, the verdict will take ages to be delivered, and will then come down as a suspended sentence. If you're poor, the verdict comes faster than the speed of light: Go to jail immediately."

That was the outcome last week for another child of privilege who killed nine people in a car crash in 2010 and was given a two-year suspended sentence.

Orachorn Devahastin Na Ayudhya was 16 and driving without a license when she crashed her sedan into a van on a Bangkok highway. A court initially sentenced her to a 3-year prison term but reduced the sentence last week, saying she had provided "helpful" testimony.

One of Thailand's most infamous untouchables recently resurfaced in headlines. Duang Yubumrung, the son of Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung, was linked to the 2001 shooting of a policeman in a nightclub brawl. He was acquitted of murder in 2004 on grounds of insufficient evidence.

Duang has since joined the Bangkok police force and in July was assigned as a sharpshooter. News reports quoted his father as saying he was proud of his son's skill because "His shooting accuracy is 100 percent!"

In a country that values deference and patronage, even the police oblige, said social commentator Somkiat Onwimon.

"Police are afraid of influential people," he said. "They treat the famous people differently and let them break the law."

business us usual ...

Internet to the rescue!

The family then enlisted the help of local police official Lt. Col. Pannapon Nammuang to concoct a tale that somebody else – the family driver – had been at the wheel when the accident happened, according to Bangkok police.

But online outrage forced the police to change their tune.

Car crash politics: Laws don't touch rich in Thailand
By Ploy Bunluesilp , NBC News
September 5, 2012

BANGKOK, Thailand – Shortly before dawn on Monday in an upscale area of Bangkok, a 27-year-old Thai man driving a Ferrari crashed into a policeman on a motorcycle. The driver dragged him more than 100 yards along the road before fleeing the scene. The policeman, 47-year-old Sgt. Maj. Wichien Glanprasert, was killed.




The furious reaction to the incident this week has shown one thing above all: most Thais have no faith in their justice system.

‘I don’t believe in Thai justice’

The driver of the car was Vorayuth Yoovidhya, scion of one of the richest families in Thailand. His grandfather, Chaleo Yoovidhya, founded the Red Bull energy drink empire. Forbes magazine ranked the family as Thailand's fourth richest (not including the royal family) earlier this year with a net worth of $5.4 billion.

Thais know from long experience that the wealthy are rarely held accountable for their crimes.

Red Bull heir held over deadly hit-and-run in Ferrari

“As long as you are rich and powerful, you can get away with everything,” said 40-year-old Ubonwan Weeyanond. “I don’t believe in Thai justice, it’s only a privilege for the rich, not for poor people.”

Vorayuth fled back to his family's compound after the accident – police followed oil streaks for several blocks to the gate of the family mansion.


Vorayuth Yoovidhya, the 27-year-old grandson
of late Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhaya,
during the police investigation on Monday.



The family then enlisted the help of local police official Lt. Col. Pannapon Nammuang to concoct a tale that somebody else – the family driver – had been at the wheel when the accident happened, according to Bangkok police.

But online outrage forced the police to change their tune.

Bangkok’s top police official, Lt. Gen. Comronwit Toopgrajank sidelined Pannapon (who denied wrongdoing, but admitted knowing the family well) and declared he would bring the culprit to justice.

"We will not let this police officer die without justice. Believe me," Comronwit said Tuesday. "The truth will prevail in this case. I can guarantee it."

Vorayuth was charged with causing death by reckless driving and escaping arrest by police, but was released on $16,000 bail Tuesday.

Comronwit said that Pannapon, the officer who allegedly tried to cover up the crime, could be fired and brought up on criminal charges, according to a Bangkok Post report on Wednesday.

‘Do they think people are stupid?’

Still, Thais remain skeptical that the wealthy young man will see the inside of a prison cell.

“Thai police often make someone a scapegoat. They should not cover up the case because how many people in this country have a Ferrari?” said Varattaya Intarakong, a 38-year-old business owner. “Do they think people are stupid? But I believe that this guy will not be jailed.”

This wouldn’t be the first time the child of a wealthy and influential Thai person got off without punishment after committing a crime.

In a notorious case in December 2010, a 16-year-old girl driving a Honda Civic without a license collided with a passenger van that spun out of control. Nine people were killed in the crash. But the girl who caused the crash came from a privileged family and received only a two-year suspended sentence.

‘Teach him how to be responsible’

Vorayuth's case has generated particular anger because he failed to stop to help the policeman, and tried to get a member of his family's staff to take the blame instead.

Several Thais commented online that people who try to shift the blame onto a scapegoat should not be granted bail.

The dead policeman's brother, Pornanand Glanprasert, said he's particularly bitter about Vorayuth's failure to stop and help.

“I can't accept how the driver hit my brother and sped away. If he hit him and got out of the car immediately, my brother might have survived,” said Pornanand. “When I realized that he’s a son of well-known people, I want his family to teach him how to be responsible, not run away like this.”

‘Double standards’

The issue of "double standards" for the wealthy and privileged is highly politically charged in Thailand. Many Thais argue that the courts sell justice to the highest bidder, and the tattered reputation of Thailand's judiciary has sunk even lower in recent years due to several clumsy political interventions by the courts.

But the prospects for things to improve appear dim. The current Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung was himself involved in an infamous case a decade ago when several witnesses saw his son, Duang Yubumrung, murder a policeman in a nightclub with a pistol.

Duang went on the run for months, the family invented a mysterious scapegoat who they claimed was actually to blame, and witnesses began changing their testimony -- suddenly declaring that perhaps Duang was not the shooter after all.

When he came out of hiding, Duang was cleared of murder, and despite widespread public revulsion, the distasteful saga did not damage his father's political career.

Ferraris and fiery crashes around Asia

Monday's incident is just the latest in a series of Ferrari crashes in Asia that have exposed national political divisions.

In Singapore, where many residents are concerned about the level of immigration, particularly from mainland China, there was widespread outrage over an accident in May. A wealthy Chinese man crashed his Ferrari at high speed into a taxi, killing himself, the taxi driver and a Japanese woman who was a passenger in the taxi.

And in China an explosive story concerning another Ferrari crash is creating a political storm in Beijing.

The South China Morning Post reported this week that a Ferrari crash in March -- which was swiftly covered up -- killed Ling Gu, the 23-year-old son of one of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s most trusted aides, Ling Jihua.

The younger Ling was allegedly driving recklessly with two semi-naked girls when the crash happened, leaving one of them paralyzed, according the newspaper.

The newspaper says his father's political career was damaged by his attempts to cover up the crash. Perhaps it’s a sign that even China's powerful have less impunity than Thailand's wealthy.

Car crash politics: Laws don't touch rich in Thailand - World News

These damn European measurements .... what is 200kph in mph? Damn fast, no?

Ferrari that killed cop 'was doing 200kph'
September 6, 2012

Police forensic experts believe Krating Daeng managing director Worrayuth Yoovidhya crashed his Ferrari car directly into the rear of a slain policeman's motorcycle at a speed of around 200km per hour.

The experts based their belief on forensic tests on the black Ferrari and on the motorcycle of Pol Snr Sgt-Major Wichean Klinprasert.

Worrayuth, wearing black suit and black sunglass, at 3pm attended the funeral of Wichean and apologised to family members, at Wat That Thong. He was accompanied by his mother Daranee Yoovidhya.

A forensic expert, who asked not to be named, said evidence contradicted Worrayuth's claim that Wichean abruptly cut in the front of his Ferrari, preventing him from stopping in time or swerving to avoid impact. The expert said had the policeman's motorcycle cut in front of the Ferrari car, the angle of the impact would have been diagonal.

Impact traces showed the Ferrari crashed straight into the rear of the motorcycle, leaving an imprint of the bike's exhaust pipe on the car's front.

The source said the impact was believed to have happened while the Ferrari was travelling at about 200kph because Worrayuth suffered shoulder and chest bruises from the safety belt and the impact caused the safety belt to be released from its lock and activated the airbag.

The source said the crash site was believed to be in front of Sukhumvit Soi 47 because there was blood at the spot.

The expert said the body of the policeman appeared to have been stuck on the bonnet because there was hair, blood and the victim's police badge on it.

The expert said the policeman's body fell from the car 64.8 metres from the crash site as there were more bloodstains at that spot. The policeman appeared to have died there, the source said.

The source said the suspect might have swerved the car at about 200 metres from the crash site to shake off the stuck motorcycle. The machine was found about 200 metres away from the crash site at the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 49.

There was a trail of engine oil from the Ferrari leading into Worrayuth's house off Sukhuvmit Soi 53.

The source added that DNA samples collected from the safety belt and airbag of the Ferrari matched that of Worrayuth, confirming he had been driving the car.

Senator Samak Chaowaphanun, lawyer for the Yoovidhya family, insisted Worrayuth was not drunk at the time of the accident early on Monday. Samak said Worrayuth did not try to flee the scene but went home to consult his father.

Also yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said Thong Lor crime suppression inspector Pol Lt-Colonel Pannaphol Nammueng might be dismissed from police service if a disciplinary panel found that he had tried to arrest a scapegoat to help Worrayuth.

Ferrari that killed cop 'was doing 200kph' - The Nation

Now that the forensic evidence has come out they have made a very move for their defense. The lawyer is now saying that he only drank alcohol after the crash occurred due to the stress of what had just happened. I'm guessing that he will receive a suspended sentence at the end of all this and the family will give the policeman's family a huge sum in compensation. Hilarious to see Chalerm make a comment on a case of this nature after letting his sons assault and eventually murder one person.

Red Bull heir to face drunken driving charge


September 6, 2012 6:32 pm
Krating Daeng managing director Worrayuth Yoovidhya will soon be charged with drunken driving over the fatal hit-and-run in which a policeman was killed, police said Thursday.


Bloodalcohol tests showed Worrayuth was over the legal limit when the wreck occurred early Monday morning.

The driving-while-intoxicated offence will subject Worrayuth to a heavier sentence. He has already been charged with causing death through carelessness, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence and fine of Bt20,000. He now faces a minimum jail term of three years to 10 years and/or a maximum fine of Bt200,000, along with suspension of his driver’s license for a lengthy period, said Pol Colonel Chumphol Phumphuang, chief of Thong Lor police station, which has jurisdiction over the high-profile case.

The Nation

Red Bull heir to face drunken driving charge - The Nation

Red Bull heir to face drunk driving charge

• Published: 6/09/2012 at 06:33 PM
• Online news: Local News

A blood alcohol test on hit-and-run suspect and Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya showed that he was over the legal limit to drive a car, police said on Thursday.



Vorayuth Yoovidhya (L) and Pol Lt-Col Pannapon Nammuang (Post Photos)

Pol Lt-Col Viradol Tubtimdee of Thong Lor police station said Mr Vorayuth's blood sample contained 63 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, or a reading of 0.063%. The legal blood-alcohol limit in Thailand is 0.05%.

"Mr Vorayuth will face an additional charge of drunk driving," Pol Lt-Col Viradol said.
He already faces charges of failing to stop after an accident and reckless driving causing death.
Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Kamronwit Thoopkrachang said on Thursday he had ordered the dimissal from the force of Pol Lt-Col Pannapon Nammuang, an inspector at Thong Lor police station.
He said Pol Lt-Col Pannapon first arrested a scapegoat, Suwes Hom-ubon, in an attempt to protect Mr Vorayuth. Mr Suwes is Mr Vorayuth's aide and chauffeur.
"Pol Lt-Col Pannapon has 30 days to appeal," Pol Lt-Gen Kamronwit said.

Pol Lt-Col Akharawin Sukhonthawit, deputy chief of Thong Lor station, said a disciplinary committee had ruled that Pol Lt-Col Pannapon acted illegally in trying to place blame on an innocent person to protect an offender.

About 5.30am on Monday, on Sukhumvit road, a Ferrari driven Mr Vorayuth, 27-year-old grandson of Red Bull energy drink founder Chaleo Yoovidhya, slammed into the rear of the motorcycle ridden by Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert, killing him instantly.

Mr Vorayuth fled to his home in soi 53 after the crash, which happened near the mouth of soi 47.
Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner Jarumporn Suramanee said on Wednesday that a forensic investigation concluded that the Thong Lor police officer did not suddenly cut in front of Mr Vorayuth's Ferrari with his motorcycle, as claimed, but was hit straight on from the rear by the sports car, which was travelling at high speed.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...e-drunk-charge

200kmh = 124mph... on a city street

The ferrari cost 32 million baht, more than a million $US

One of these days one of these guys or girls from a rich family is going to do something so outrageous that not even their family name and money can protect them. Probably not this one though...

^ Bangkok Post reported 32 Million baht Ferrari

http://m.bangkokpost.com/topstories/310669

Originally Posted by fred flintstone

maybe its a misprint and should read 3.2 million, that'd still be 100k bucks

No misprint.

Moreover, the family also co-owns the sole authorised importer of Ferrari cars in Thailand.

Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya accused of killing policeman after Ferrari hit-and-run in Thailand - Asia - World - The Independent