[imagesource: Matt Dunham/ AP]

You may not be familiar with Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, but you are familiar with his family.

Vorayuth is heir to a fortune estimated to be worth $20,2 billion. His grandfather, the late Chaleo Yoovidhya, created the Red Bull energy drink.

After Chaleo’s death in 2012, his son Chalerm Yoovidhya took over the business. The family currently rank second on Forbes’ list of the 50 richest people in Thailand, and own roughly half of the Red Bull global business empire.

Vorayuth, Chalerm’s son, is now at the centre of a scandal that dates back to 2012, following a hit-and-run that resulted in the death of a police officer.

In a nutshell, this is what happened, according to CNN.

In September 2012 Sgt. Major Wichien Klanprasert, a Thai police officer, was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a Ferrari, allegedly driven by Vorayuth. Klanprasert was knocked to the ground, and his body was dragged down the street before the Ferrari sped away.

Image: EPA/ Landou

Vorayuth was charged with speeding (based on CCTV footage of the incident he is estimated to have been driving at 177 km/h) and reckless driving leading to a death, among other crimes.

Blood tests conducted following the accident allegedly showed evidence of drug use. He was released on bail. A year later, the speeding charge expired.

Then in 2017, police issued a warrant for his arrest, by which time he had already left the country, and the other charges, with the exception of reckless driving causing death, expired.

Which brings us to June 2020, when the Thai Royal Police were advised to drop the remaining charges against Vorayuth (below).

The decision to drop the charges thrust the case back into the spotlight — and angered Thais who have long felt that the country’s legal system unfairly favors the rich.

Image: EPA/ Landou

“The public sentiment is that there are different standards when it comes to the rich and the poor,” said Ekachai Chainuvati, a law lecturer at Siam University in Bangkok.

While some called for a boycott of Red Bull products, others noted that this was just the latest in a long line of confirmations of a culture of impunity for the rich in the country.

Following the public outcry, a committee was then appointed to investigate the cause leading up to the dropped charges, alongside a probe into the case.

On July 30, a key witness in the case, Jaruchart Mardthong, was killed in a motorcycle accident.

Lt. Gen. Prachuab Wongsuk said the collision appeared to be an accident, but police hadn’t ruled out a possible “murder motivation.” “We are investigating suspects surrounding Jaruchart,” he said.

Police were advised to re-investigate Vorayuth’s case.

Vorayuth’s whereabouts are currently unknown, but an arrest warrant for him is in effect.

The investigative team have until August 20 to file a report consolidating their evidence against him.

Meanwhile, his family has issued an apology “for the news of our family member that has caused anger, hatred, and dissatisfaction that is increasingly voiced in society”.

You can read more about the finer details of the ongoing case, here.

[source:cnn]