Latest news with #Vorayuth
Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Straits Times
Thailand convicts ex-prosecutors in fugitive Red Bull heir hit-and-run case
FILE PHOTO: Policemen examine a damaged Ferrari at the home of the late Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhaya in Bangkok September 3, grandson of the owner of Red Bull - the famous energy drink from Thailand - was arrested for the hit and run death of a police officer in Bangkok. Picture taken September 3, 2012. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo BANGKOK - A court in Thailand on Tuesday convicted two former prosecutors for misconduct in connection with a high-profile hit-and-run case involving the fugitive heir to the Red Bull energy drink empire. Vorayuth 'Boss' Yoovidhya, the grandson of the late Thai billionaire Chaleo Yoovidhya who created the Red Bull energy drink, is accused of crashing his Ferrari into a policeman in 2012 and dragging his body under the vehicle for more than 100 metres (328 feet) before fleeing. His whereabouts is unknown and he is likely living abroad, according to media reports. A former deputy attorney-general who oversaw Vorayuth's, case, Net Naksuk, and another prosecutor were sentenced to three and two years respectively on Tuesday after being found guilty of misconduct in helping Vorayuth avoid prosecution and deciding not to indict him. Vorayuth, who was 27 at the time of the incident, was later charged with speeding, hit-and-run and reckless driving causing death. He ignored multiple court summons before authorities issued a warrant for his arrest five years after the incident. He initially admitted to driving the car but denied other charges. The hit-and-run case has captured significant public attention in Thailand, stoking anger over a perception of impunity for the wealthy, with Vorayuth still at large, despite repeated promises from authorities to bring him to justice. Six others defendants in the case, including former national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The two former prosecutors sentenced on Tuesday have denied wrongdoing and were appealing the verdict, according to the court. They could not immediately be reached for comment. 'The actions of the defendants undermined the credibility of the justice system,' the court said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
AsiaOne
23-04-2025
- AsiaOne
Thailand convicts ex-prosecutors in fugitive Red Bull heir hit-and-run case, Asia News
BANGKOK — A court in Thailand on Tuesday (April 22) convicted two former prosecutors for misconduct in connection with a high-profile hit-and-run case involving the fugitive heir to the Red Bull energy drink empire. Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya, the grandson of the late Thai billionaire Chaleo Yoovidhya who created the Red Bull energy drink, is accused of crashing his Ferrari into a policeman in 2012 and dragging his body under the vehicle for more than 100m before fleeing. His whereabouts is unknown and he is likely living abroad, according to media reports. A former deputy attorney-general who oversaw Vorayuth's, case, Net Naksuk, and another prosecutor were sentenced to three and two years respectively on Tuesday after being found guilty of misconduct in helping Vorayuth avoid prosecution and deciding not to indict him. Vorayuth, who was 27 at the time of the incident, was later charged with speeding, hit-and-run and reckless driving causing death. He ignored multiple court summons before authorities issued a warrant for his arrest five years after the incident. He initially admitted to driving the car but denied other charges. The hit-and-run case has captured significant public attention in Thailand, stoking anger over a perception of impunity for the wealthy, with Vorayuth still at large, despite repeated promises from authorities to bring him to justice. Six others defendants in the case, including former national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The two former prosecutors sentenced on Tuesday have denied wrongdoing and were appealing the verdict, according to the court. They could not immediately be reached for comment. "The actions of the defendants undermined the credibility of the justice system," the court said. [[nid:715334]]
NDTV
22-04-2025
- NDTV
Thailand Convicts Ex-Prosecutors In Fugitive Red Bull Heir Hit-And-Run Case
Bangkok: A court in Thailand on Tuesday convicted two former prosecutors for misconduct in connection with a high-profile hit-and-run case involving the fugitive heir to the Red Bull energy drink empire. Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya, the grandson of the late Thai billionaire Chaleo Yoovidhya who created the Red Bull energy drink, is accused of crashing his Ferrari into a policeman in 2012 and dragging his body under the vehicle for more than 100 metres (328 feet) before fleeing. His whereabouts is unknown and he is likely living abroad, according to media reports. A former deputy attorney-general who oversaw Vorayuth's, case, Net Naksuk, and another prosecutor were sentenced to three and two years respectively on Tuesday after being found guilty of misconduct in helping Vorayuth avoid prosecution and deciding not to indict him. Vorayuth, who was 27 at the time of the incident, was later charged with speeding, hit-and-run and reckless driving causing death. He ignored multiple court summons before authorities issued a warrant for his arrest five years after the incident. He initially admitted to driving the car but denied other charges. The hit-and-run case has captured significant public attention in Thailand, stoking anger over a perception of impunity for the wealthy, with Vorayuth still at large, despite repeated promises from authorities to bring him to justice. Six others defendants in the case, including former national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The two former prosecutors sentenced on Tuesday have denied wrongdoing and were appealing the verdict, according to the court. They could not immediately be reached for comment. "The actions of the defendants undermined the credibility of the justice system," the court said.
Free Malaysia Today
22-04-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Thailand convicts ex-prosecutors in Red Bull heir's hit-and-run case
Vorayuth Yoovidhya was charged with speeding, hit-and-run and reckless driving causing death over the incident. (EPA Images pic) BANGKOK : A court in Thailand today convicted two former prosecutors for misconduct in connection with a high-profile hit-and-run case involving the fugitive heir to the Red Bull energy drink empire. Vorayuth 'Boss' Yoovidhya, the grandson of the late Thai billionaire Chaleo Yoovidhya who created the Red Bull energy drink, is accused of crashing his Ferrari into a policeman in 2012 and dragging his body under the vehicle for more than 100m before fleeing. His whereabouts is unknown and he is likely living abroad, according to media reports. A former deputy attorney-general who oversaw Vorayuth's, case, Net Naksuk, and another prosecutor were sentenced to three and two years respectively today after being found guilty of misconduct in helping Vorayuth avoid prosecution and deciding not to indict him. Vorayuth, who was 27 at the time of the incident, was later charged with speeding, hit-and-run and reckless driving causing death. He ignored multiple court summons before authorities issued a warrant for his arrest five years after the incident. He initially admitted to driving the car but denied other charges. The hit-and-run case has captured significant public attention in Thailand, stoking anger over a perception of impunity for the wealthy, with Vorayuth still at large, despite repeated promises from authorities to bring him to justice. Six other defendants in the case, including former national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The two former prosecutors sentenced today have denied wrongdoing and were appealing the verdict, according to the court. They could not immediately be reached for comment. 'The actions of the defendants undermined the credibility of the justice system,' the court said.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Time of India
Former Thai prosecutors sentenced to prison for alleged cover-up of Red Bull heir's deadly crash
Vorayuth Boss Yoovidhya (AP) BANGKOK: A Thai court convicted and sentenced on Tuesday two former prosecutors in connection with an alleged cover-up of a 2012 Ferrari crash involving an heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune that killed a police officer. Former Deputy Attorney General Nate Naksuk and former prosecutor Chainarong Sangthongaram were sentenced to three and two years, respectively, for abuse of power to help an individual avoid prosecution, said the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases in Bangkok. They were among eight people charged with conspiring to alter the recorded speed of the Ferrari driven by Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya to help him evade a speeding charge. The rest, including former Police Chief Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung, were acquitted due to a lack of evidence linking them to the cover-up, the court said on Tuesday. However, the court ordered all eight to be detained pending an appeal, according to the court statement, which didn't provide further details. They were later released on bail, local media reported. Vorayuth escaped justice by fleeing abroad in a case widely viewed as an example of how the rich and well-connected enjoy impunity in Thailand. He is the grandson of the late Chaleo Yoovidhya, one of the creators of the globally famous Red Bull brand. Forbes magazine last year listed the Yoovidhya family as Thailand's richest with an estimated net worth of $36 billion. Police have said Vorayuth smashed his Ferrari into the back of a police officer's motorbike around dawn on a major Bangkok road in September 2012. The officer was flung from the bike and died at the scene. Vorayuth drove home and was later arrested. Medical tests showed traces of alcohol and cocaine in his bloodstream, according to police. Vorayuth avoided further legal action by consistently failing to meet with prosecutors, while continuing for years to live a jet-set life. By the time prosecutors finally issued an arrest warrant in April 2017, Vorayuth had fled abroad. His case has been marked by numerous delays in the investigative and judicial processes, running down the clock on most of the charges involving the hit-and-run death of the officer. There is a single charge left of reckless driving causing death, which expires under the statute of limitations in 2027.
