Did the Heir to Red Bull Flee Justice?
It is no secret that the rich and famous tend to be placed under greater scrutiny when it is found that they have broken the law. However, it is also a fact that there are times when these very same individuals may have the means to avoid or escape the accusations which have been levelled against them. One relatively recent example of these observations can be seen in the story of Red Bull heir Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya.
In September 2012, Yoovidhya was driving a black Ferrari sportscar when it struck a police officer riding a motorcycle. He then allegedly dragged the officer for some time before returning back to his luxury mansion. Authorities were able to track down the vehicle thanks to a large oil slick that was present between the initial scene of the accident and his home.
Upon further investigation, Yoovidyha was charged with multiple criminal counts including hit-and-run, reckless driving resulting in death and travelling above the speed limit. With such serious violations, one would assume that the trial would have represented an essentially open-and-shut case. However, Yoovidhya found various ways to delay the proceedings on numerous occasions. After remaining silent for some time, Thai authorities came to the conclusion that he had fled the country sometime in 2017.
Public Outcry
The family of the slain police officer were obviously upset with the results of the case. These feelings were further exacerbated when they learned that the police were ceasing the investigation entirely. According to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), this was at least partially due to the fact that the age of Yoovidyha had been incorrectly recorded at the time of the investigation (27 years old as opposed to his true age of 30). His speeds were also brought into question.
It only stands to reason that such news caused public interest to reignite. Several individuals and organisations began to call for boycotts on Red Bull products. Others instead insisted that the result of the case was another clear illustration of how the elite enjoy relative impunity when it comes to crimes. In fact, Siam University lecturer Ekachai Chainuvati stated that:
"The public sentiment is that there are different standards when it comes to the rich and the poor."
Since this time, public outrage has continued to grow. Many governmental agencies have now become involved. Even Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has promised to take the necessary actions in order to ensure that law and order are not defined by class or financial status. It is therefor clear that one of the main concerns associated with this case involves the principle of accountability within a fair and balanced justice system.
An Eerie Silence
Since the time of the accident, the family of Yoovidyha as well as Red Bull executives have remained relatively silent. It was not until recently when a representative expressed distress over the current state of affairs and apologised for any unintentional harm that may have been done. Considering the fact that the Red Bull fortune is estimated at over $200 billion dollars, such admissions have done little to persuade the public that money was not a role
Mounting Suspicions
Although the case itself has not moved forward, there have still been a number of revelations which are beginning to come to light. Some of this brings up many questions in regards to investigation methods and transparency.
For instance, the case was suddenly dropped by the head prosecutor due to what he termed as new evidence. Recently discovered testimony pointed to the fact that Yoovidyha was not speeding at the time of the incident. This seemed slightly out of context, as prosecutor Net Narksook first stated that Yoocivhya was travelling close to 177 kilometres per hour when the accident occurred. This figure was later revised to 79 kilometres per hour (immediately below the legal speed limit for the area). He provided no explanation as to why he changed his observations.
Furthermore, two additional witnesses supposedly came forth to refute testimony that Yoovidyha has been speeding. Both claimed that his Ferrari was travelling between 50 to 60 kilometres per hour. One also stated that the police officer was seen to swerve in front of the Ferrari; directly resulting in the crash. Although this individual was due to give additional testimony, he was also killed in an accident involving a motorcycle soon before the deposition was to take place.
The death of any witness in such a high-profile case causes eyebrows to be raised and this situation is certainly no different. While CCTV footage appears to confirm the death of this witness as was claimed, some are questioning the timing of the accident. Others have observed that the mobile phone of the victim mysteriously went missing. It was later observed that the phone was taken by a colleague who did not want to be associated with the ongoing Red Bull investigation.
On a final note, it was discovered that a physics teacher at Chulalongkorn University had also estimated the speed of the Ferrari to be 177 kilometres per hour; backing up the initial observation made by the prosecutor. However, this statement was not brought to light until after the charges had already been dropped.
Long-Standing Undertones
It seems that this recent incident has once again ignited debates throughout Thailand in regards to how high-profile families such as those associated with multinational firms such as Red Bull appear to be "above the law" on occasion. The family of the slain police officer have also expressed concern in the apparent shift of blame from Yoovidyha to the officer who was said to swerve in front of the Ferrari.
Although the initial charges brought against Yoovidyha have not yet been reinstated, he is still wanted by the police as a fugitive. It is not yet clear how the investigation will complete nor are his whereabouts known at the present. Either way, the fact of the matter is that this case has highlighted the deep divisions within Thai society.
The Questionable Case of Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya
Metropolitan areas throughout Thailand are known for their extremely high levels of traffic congestion. So, accidents can and do occur on a regular basis. Some of these incidents prove to be fatal. One example which illustrates this point involves heir to the Red Bull fortune Vorayuth Yoovidhya. On 3 July 2012, he was driving his black Ferrari when it came into contact with a local motorcycle police officer. After hitting the officer, authorities claim that the man became trapped beneath the undercarriage of the vehicle; resulting in his death. Investigators were eventually able to track down the location of the Ferrari after following an oil trail which led back to his place of residence.
The Initial Investigation
Local authorities immediately began investigating the cause of the fatal accident. Prosecutors found that the vehicle in question was travelling 177 kilometres per hour. This was well above the posted speed limit. The state therefore decided to file several charges against Yoovidhya including speeding, hit-and-run causing death and reckless driving.
Although Yoovidhya initially cooperated with the authorities, he claimed that the officer had cut in front of his Ferrari at the time of the accident. After giving his statement, he was released on bail for a sum of approximately $16,000 dollars. Although he was due to appear in court on several occasions, he was never present. It was not until 2017 that authorities finally concluded that Yoovidhya had left Thailand. His current location is not known.
Differing Accounts
Thai prosecutors initially had until 2027 to pursue the case. However, they decided to drop the case in 2017 after they claimed that new evidence had been presented. This mainly came in the form of a revision of how fast Yoovidhya had been driving immediately before the accident. While initial analyses claimed speeds of 177 kilometres per hour, this was later reduced to 79 kilometres per hour. In such a situation, he would have been travelling under the speed limit. No direct reason was ever given for the correction.
It is also important to mention that two additional witnesses came forward during the investigation. Both were lorry drivers and had been located quite close to the location of the accident. Each claimed that according to their perspectives, Yoovidhya had only been travelling between 50 and 60 kilometres per hour. This would have placed him well below the posted speed limit at the time. Furthermore, one of the witnesses stated that (similar to the account provided by Yoovidhya) the police officer did indeed swerve in front of his Ferrari; causing the fatal collision.
Unfortunately, this second witness was himself the victim of a motorcycle accident. He was therefore unable to formally provide the evidence that he provided in the initial statement. While the public was sceptical in regards to the situation of his death, numerous closed-circuit television cameras provided proof that he had indeed been involved in an accident with another motorcycle. However, police at the time said that they had yet to rule out additional motives.
Another Twist to the Case
Up until this point, much of the evidence against Yoovidhya involved travelling well above the speed limit. Once the lead prosecutor refuted his initial claims, the case was dropped. This is why another independent testimony began to turn heads. Professor Sathon Vijarnwannaluk of Chulalongkorn University performed a scientific analysis which showed that the vehicle had been speeding at the time of the collision. Similar to initial reports, he stated that the Ferrari was travelling at 177 kilometres per hour.
Unfortunately, this assessment was not included within the police files. It was then unavailable to the lead prosecutor when he decided to drop the case. Authorities have since urged a reopening of the investigation; specifically focusing upon the reckless driving charges that were initially levied against Yoovidhya. They also encouraged a separate investigation into alleged drug usage due to toxicology analyses taken immediately after the accident occurred. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) states that it wishes to pursue the case in order to bring justice to the family of the police officer as well as to determine exactly what had occurred
A Controversy Mired in Speculation
It only stands to reason that such a high-profile case has grabbed the attention of the public over the past few years. There is indeed a great deal of controversy; specifically involving the ways in which authorities initially handled the case. This is due in no small part to the noticeable gap between the rich and poor classes within Thailand.
Some claim that those who enjoy independent wealth (such as a direct heir to the Red Bull fortune) enjoy a relative level of impunity in regards to following the letter of the law. They state that this was one of the reasons why Yoovidhya was able to flee and has yet to be brought to justice.
However, it is just as important to mention that this entire investigation has become an international news story. Authorities are therefore looking to provide superior levels of transparency in order to ensure the public that the law is not focused upon one's financial status. The fact that two independent witnesses came forth to verify that Yoovidhya had indeed been driving below the speed limit also brings up questions in regards to the veracity of independent analyses. However, there are still many questions surrounding the disappearance of Yoovidhya and why he would choose to flee the country as opposed to proclaim his innocence.
It seems as if no clear answers will come to light any time soon. Unless Yoovidhya decides to return to Thailand, it is difficult to see how the case would be able to progress to any amenable outcome. Until then, the battle lines are drawn between those who feel that the legal system is unbalanced and prosecutors who wish to come to an unbiased conclusion.