[Asian Correspondent]
Thai prosecutors will issue an arrest warrant tomorrow for Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya, 28, who failed to appear to hear charges against him in a fatal hit-and-run case,Reuters reported today.
Vorayuth, the grandson of the late Red Bull co-creator Chaleo Yoovidhya, is accused of causing the death of a policeman while driving his Ferrari on the morning of September 3, 2012.
He was due to hear the charges against him this morning, with the deadline extended to 4pm today when he didn’t show up. When he hadn’t appeared by 4pm Thai authorities announced they will issue a warrant for his arrest.
He faces charges of causing death through reckless driving and failing to stop and assist the victim.
Reuters adds that the energy drink heir’s lawyer said he had left the country on Thursday and was unable to return due to illness.
The case has come under intense media scrutiny and has been closely followed on blogs and social media. Thailand has a poor reputation for bringing wayward elite to justice, with many cases in the past being swept under the carpet.
However, the Thai public hasn’t let this one lie and prosecutors have pushed forward with the investigation despite numerous delays and the Yoovidhyas paying $97,000 to the victim’s family, raising the question whether the days of impunity for Thailand’s elite are drawing to a close?
http://asiancorrespondent.com/112787/thailand-to-issue-arrest-warrant-for-red-bull-heir-vorayuth/
It will not be surprising if this Hi-So Red Bull heir buys his freedom. Hopefully justice will prevail.