Charges dropped against Red Bull heir over policeman death Image Unavailable, Please Login Charges have been dropped against Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhaya over the 2012 hit-and-run killing of a police officer. Mr Yoovidhaya was accused of hitting the officer with his car in the capital, Bangkok, then fleeing. He repeatedly failed to meet police to face the charges, which include reckless driving causing death. Thai Police say these charges have now been dropped, but it is unclear why. Mr Vorayuth is the grandson of Chaleo Yoovidhaya, who co-founded the Red Bull empire with Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz. At the time of his death in 2012, Chaleo was the third richest person in Thailand, according to Forbes magazine, with a net worth of $5bn (£3.93bn). Police Sergeant-Major Wichian Klanprasert was riding his motorbike along Bangkok's Sukhumvit Road when he was hit by a grey Ferrari, which dragged his body more than 100m (109yds) down the road, before driving off. Investigating officers followed a trail of brake fluid to a luxury home less than a kilometre away. The badly-dented Ferrari was there, but initially the police detained a driver employed by the family as their main suspect. When they subsequently discovered the car had actually been driven by Mr Vorayuth, then 27, he was tested and found to have excessive alcohol in his blood - but, he said, this was from drinking at home after the accident. Image Unavailable, Please Login He was arrested but then released shortly afterwards. Subsequently, he was summoned repeatedly to face charges, but each time his lawyers said he was unable to do so, citing overseas work commitments and illness. An initial investigation team had to be disbanded after an officer was accused of covering up for Mr Vorayuth's involvement. Thai authorities finally issued an arrest warrant for Mr Vorayuth five years after the accident, after he missed eight legal summons. The closely watched case has fuelled criticism that Thailand's elite enjoy special treatment by the authorities. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53521586
"The closely watched case has fueled criticism that Thailand's elite enjoy special treatment by the authorities." Yup! Very true in Bangkok. There is a level of corruption that is just accepted. I have seen it first hand.
I'm shocked, I say... As George Orwell wrote in Animal Farm, "all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others". Of course, the cop he killed won't be able to spend much of whatever payoff they gave to his bosses. Hopefully his family got a little.
Naive question from me, but if he's the heir to his fathers half of Red Bull he must have some legal ties too it. Can he or the company be held accountable in Europe for corruption in another country? Not that it will happen, just wondering in general.
In theory, if the company (or holding company) owns the car, they could conceivably be liable for damages as a result of letting him drive drunk. In practical terms, he probably doesn't have any "assets" to attach. The corporation is generally a separate entity ("person") for tax and liability purposes, and I'd be surprised if they don't have his money in trust in a few corporations, and he takes draws if and when needed. If he lives for free, doesn't pay for cars, or food or entertainment, his need to access money is pretty low, and his handlers likely do it, anyway.
