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[What's Burning?]

BANGKOK -- A grandson of the creator of the Red Bull energy drink has been arrested for driving a Ferrari that struck a police officer and dragged his dead body down a Bangkok street in an early-morning hit-and-run, police said Monday.

Police took Vorayuth Yoovidhya, 27, for questioning after tracing oil streaks for several blocks to his family's gated estate in a wealthy neighborhood of the Thai capital.

He was facing charges of causing death by reckless driving and escaping an arrest by police but was released on a 500,000 baht ($15,900) bail.

Vorayuth admitted he drove the charcoal gray sports car but said the police officer's motorcycle abruptly cut in front of his vehicle, said police Maj. Gen. Anuchai Lekbamroong, the lead investigator in the case.

Full Story

[spankyham]

I just hope the family aren't allowed to get away with "buying" their way out of this. Reading the article it seems they already tried to get it covered up/buried.

Vorayuth Yoovidhya, Red Bull Heir Arrested In Deadly Thai Hit-and-run

BANGKOK -- A grandson of the creator of the Red Bull energy drink has been arrested for driving a Ferrari that struck a police officer and dragged his dead body down a Bangkok street in an early-morning hit-and-run, police said Monday.

Police took Vorayuth Yoovidhya, 27, for questioning after tracing oil streaks for several blocks to his family's gated estate in a wealthy neighborhood of the Thai capital.

He was facing charges of causing death by reckless driving and escaping an arrest by police but was released on a 500,000 baht ($15,900) bail.



A Thai police officer examines a damaged Ferrari in the garage of a home of Chaleo Yoovidhaya, the creator of the Red Bull energy drink Monday, Sept. 3, 2012, in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo)

Vorayuth admitted he drove the charcoal gray sports car but said the police officer's motorcycle abruptly cut in front of his vehicle, said police Maj. Gen. Anuchai Lekbamroong, the lead investigator in the case.

Bangkok's top police official, Lt. Gen. Comronwit Toopgrajank, said he took charge of the investigation after a lower-ranking policeman initially tried to cover up the crime by turning in a bogus suspect. Comronwit himself led a team of officers to search the compound of late Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhaya, one of Thailand's wealthiest men before he passed away this year, and confiscated a Ferrari with a badly damaged front bumper and broken windshield.



The victim, Sgt. Maj. Wichean Glanprasert, 47, was killed during a motorcycle patrol before dawn. Thai media reported that the car dragged the officer and his motorcycle for several dozen meters as it sped through the residential neighborhood.

Comronwit said he suspended the police officer who attempted to subvert the investigation.

"A policeman is dead. I can't let this stand. If I let this case get away, I'd rather quit," he told reporters. "I don't care how powerful they are. If I can't get the actual man in this case, I will resign."

Vorayuth did not speak to the media but the family lawyer said the family will take responsibility for the damages.

The Yoovidhaya family was ranked the 4th richest in Thailand this year by Forbes magazine, with a net worth of $5.4 billion. Red Bull creator Chaleo Yoovidhaya died in his 80s in March, leaving his heirs a wide range of businesses, including shares in the globally popular energy drink brand, hospitals and real estate.

The family also co-owns the sole authorized importer of Ferrari cars in Thailand.

[Jabberwocky]

"I don't care how powerful they are. If I can't get the actual man in this case, I will resign."

That could be a statement that comes back to bite you in the a$$. Even if he does catch his man, how corrupt is the judges/rest of the legal system?

[spankyham]

"I don't care how powerful they are. If I can't get the actual man in this case, I will resign."

That could be a statement that comes back to bite you in the a$$. Even if he does catch his man, how corrupt is the judges/rest of the legal system?

In Thailand that could definitely bite you on the a$$. It might also be a way of ramping up how much the family is going to have to give you to let the case drop

[What's Burning?]

I'm thinking the family of the dead man will get 1/10 of what the total amount is, police, judges, and other officials will get the majority of it. But I'm sure the kid learned his lesson.

[Hammer278]

Typical...wealthy clowns trying to buy their way out of sh*t they produce for themselves and others. Just shoot them and make the world a better place I say.

[What's Burning?]

Typical...wealthy clowns trying to buy their way out of sh*t they produce for themselves and others. Just shoot them and make the world a better place I say.

Kumbaya!

[KingVee]

The thread title is a little bit misleading...

I drove while drinking a Red Bull, this morning (and many other mornings before)... Not seeing what's wrong with that.

[andrew]

I was expecting to read something about someone who had drank far too much energy drink and drove for an entire week, stopping only for petrol. I wasn't expecting to read a report about some poor little rich kid who's been naughty and just happens to be part of the family of some chap who just happened to create Red Bull. In fact, mentioning Red Bull is entirely superfluous.

[What's Burning?]

I was expecting to read something about someone who had drank far too much energy drink and drove for an entire week, stopping only for petrol. I wasn't expecting to read a report about some poor little rich kid who's been naughty and just happens to be part of the family of some chap who just happened to create Red Bull. In fact, mentioning Red Bull is entirely superfluous.

Should I have mentioned bad parenting then? I guess it's kind of like the way they mention that Harry is part of the Royals when the pictures of him going crazy in Vegas were leaked out.

[andrew]

Like I said, poor little rich kid.

[What's Burning?]

Like I said, poor little rich kid.

Which one?

[andrew]

The twit with the car that has not yet discovered teh brake pedal.