Thailand drops charges against Red Bull heir in deadly hit-and-run accident
- Arrest warrant also dropped for Vorayuth Yoovidhya, who faced charges of speeding, hit-and-run and reckless driving causing death
- Heir to energy drink empire allegedly crashed black Ferrari into policeman on motorcycle in Bangkok, then fled the scene
Lt Col Thanawuth Sanguansuk from Bangkok’s Thong Lor police station said the prosecutors who handled the prosecution of the case had informed the police last month that they had decided to drop all charges.
“Yes, they had informed us of their opinion to drop all charges. They are citing the fact the family members are compensated already,” Thanawuth said.
Vorayuth, better known by his nickname “Boss”, was wanted in connection with the September 2012 hit-and-run crash in which a police officer on motorcycle patrol was struck and killed by a driver in a Ferrari.
He has avoided meeting prosecutors ever since and became a fugitive from justice. What seemed to be a desultory effort by police to track him down fuelled criticism that Thai authorities were lenient with wealthy suspects.