Prosecutors vow to seek arrest of ‘Boss’
Red Bull heir fails to report yet again
A warrant will be sought for the arrest of Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya after he failed to report to prosecutors again yesterday over a hit-and-run case in which a policeman was killed five years ago.
Once the warrant is issued, prosecutors would also start extradition proceedings if the authorities can pinpoint his whereabouts.
Mr Vorayuth, alias “Boss”, has several times sought to postpone answering charges of reckless driving causing death and failing to give assistance and reporting the incident to authorities, in what are seen as attempts to stall legal proceedings.
His latest and eighth deferral request was lodged on Wednesday by his lawyer, Thanit Buakhiew, a day before he was supposed to meet prosecutors. The suspect claimed he had to travel overseas on urgent business.
The request was rejected by the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) on the grounds that further delays would cause damage to the legal system and cast the OAG in a negative light.
OAG spokesman, Somnuek Siangkong, said the OAG would ask Thong Lor police investigators to obtain an arrest warrant for him today on suspicion that he was intentionally stalling the case to evade legal proceedings.
“I would like to communicate [via the media] to Mr Vorayuth and his family that for a reckless driving causing death charge, the courts are generally lenient toward suspects if they show that they are willing to provide full assistance to a victim’s relatives. So he [Mr Vorayuth] should surrender to the justice process if he has done so,” Mr Thanit said.
Mr Vorayuth was arrested and charged with several offences, including speeding and reckless driving causing death after the crash on Sept 3, 2012 in which his Ferrari hit a police motorcycle, killing Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichean Glanprasert, chief of a patrol unit at Thong Lor police station.
Prosecutors came under pressure to bring Mr Vorayuth to justice after two charges of speeding and reckless driving causing damage to others’ property were dropped after their one-year statute of limitations expired.
The Red Bull heir is to be indicted on charges of reckless driving causing death which has a 15-year statute of limitations, expiring on Sept 3, 2027, and failing to help a crash victim.
The five-year statute of limitations on this charge expires on Sept 3 this year.
Amnat Chotchai, director-general of the OAG’s International Affairs Department, said a working panel has been formed to track down Mr Vorayuth who was spotted early this month outside his London residence.
He said that based on the media reports, the suspect is believed to be staying in Britain and that prosecutors will study relevant laws to see what can be done.
According to Mr Amnat, the officials will have to verify the suspect’s whereabouts first.
The work involves coordination with several agencies including Interpol if he is overseas.
“The officials will verify his whereabouts and forward the information to the Royal Thai Police to seek his extradition. Immigration officials will check his departure and entry details and we would have to seek Interpol’s cooperation,” he said.
Once his whereabouts are established and verified, Thai authorities will proceed with his extradition which will require help from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, he said.
According to Mr Amnat, his extradition can take place as Thailand and Britain have an extradition agreement and the charges against Mr Vorayuth are not politically related and carry more than a one-year jail term.
Mr Vorayuth, according to an Associated Press report, flies around the world on Red Bull jets, cheering on their Formula One racing team and keeps a black Porsche Carrera in London.