Red Bull Chief Surrounded!

[Khun Don]

Police inspector suspended over hit-and-run case
Published: 7/09/2012 at 01:35 AMNewspaper section: News


The Thong Lor police inspector accused of trying to help Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya avoid hit-and-run charges has been suspended from the force pending a disciplinary probe into his actions.

Metropolitan Police Division 5 chief Krit Piakew yesterday said a police investigation panel found Pol Lt Col Pannapon Nammuang, a Thong Lor police station inspector, guilty of serious disciplinary violations for trying to protect Vorayuth, grandson of Chaleo Yoovidhya, the founder of the Red Bull energy drink, from the hit-and-run charges, by arresting a scapegoat.

Pol Lt Col Pannapon first detained Suwes Hom-ubon for driving the Ferrari that killed Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert on Monday, even though the driver was actually Mr Vorayuth.

Pol Maj Gen Krit said he had set up a disciplinary panel to look into the actions of Pol Lt Col Pannapon after receiving the probe report from the Thong Lor investigation panel.

While the disciplinary investigation continues, the presence of Pol Lt Col Pannapon in the police service might cause damage to the force, he said, adding the disciplinary probe will be completed within 30 days.

The chief of Thong Lor police Chumpol Pumpuang said Pol Lt Col Pannapon should have known that he had arrested an innocent man when he took Mr Suwes, a 45-year-old caretaker at Mr Vorayuth's house, into custody shortly after the incident.

The incident took place on Sukhumvit Soi 47 in Bangkok about 5.30am on Monday while Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian was on patrol. The officer died at the scene.

Pol Col Chumpol said there was also no evidence to show that the Ferrari dragged the body of the officer as had been reported earlier.

Assistant Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) chief Anuchai Lekbamrung said Mr Vorayuth will face additional charges of drink-driving causing death after a sample of his blood contained 64 milligrammes per cent of alcohol, exceeding the legal limit of 50. Police will ask the court to revoke his driving licence, Pol Maj Gen Anuchai added.

Mr Vorayuth's lawyer has argued that his client did not drink before the accident _ only after he hit the policeman with his Ferrari.

Pol Maj Gen Anuchai said the estimated speed of the Ferrari has not yet been established.

BANGKOK POST

[khonrai]

Mr Vorayuth's lawyer has argued that his client did not drink before the accident _ only after he hit the policeman with his Ferrari.

Really the first thing you do after a hit and run is to go home talk to daddy and get drunk

I thought most rich young Thai's would take photo and post on their facebook page then get drunk

[Curt]

As is typical, "defense on the fly".

"He hadn't been drinking!"

"Hmmm, ... he went home and had a few beers - after the incident"

Maybe they should use the popular tactic "they were rubber beers, force upon him by mysterious dark figures."

[badfish]

It is a great defense, they have no way of proving otherwise. I've seen that car at the clubs in Bangkok, I know that kid drinks...

[Khun Don]

As is typical, "defense on the fly".

"He hadn't been drinking!"

"Hmmm, ... he went home and had a few beers - after the incident"

Maybe they should use the popular tactic "they were rubber beers, force upon him by mysterious dark figures."

Or blanks!

[Khun Don]

Red Bull heir to be questioned again
Published: 17/09/2012 at 11:46 AMOnline news: Local News

Police say they will summon hit-and-run suspect and Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya for questioning on Tuesday about a blood test result which suggests he might have used cocaine, Thong Lor police station deputy chief Akkharawin Sukhonthawit said on Monday.

"Police have not received a detailed report on Mr Vorayuth's blood test from the Office of Forensic Science yet," Pol Lt Col Akkharawin said.

"If he tested positive for illegal substances it still might not mean that the accused was abusing drugs, because some medicines can affect the tests, such as cough syrup."

Investigators will thoroughly question Mr Vorayuth again, he added.

Mr Vorayuth, 27, known as Boss, was arrested hours after a black Ferrari ran into the back of a police motorcycle about 5.30am on Sukhumvit Road near the mouth of soi 47 on Sept 3. He has confessed to failing to stop after the accident that killed Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert, 48, of Thong Lor police station.

Boss is the third son of Mr Chalerm who is the son of the late Chaleo Yoovidhya - the founder of the energy drink Krating Daeng, which is marketed around the world as Red Bull, and one of the country's richest men.

BANGKOK POST

[Khun Don]

Vorayuth cocaine rumours dismissed
Published: 18/09/2012 at 01:46 AMNewspaper section: News

National police spokesman Piya Uthayo has dismissed media reports that cocaine has been detected in the blood of Red Bull heir and hit-and-run suspect Vorayuth Yoovidhya.

The physical examination of Mr Vorayuth, who was charged with hit-and-run and drink-driving in a Sept 3 incident which killed Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert, is yet to be completed, Pol Maj Gen Piya said.

Any information about the test results of the suspect, who is a grandson of Chaleo Yoovidhya, the late founder of the Red Bull energy drink empire, would be confidential. He urged the media to exercise caution in reporting the story.

Mr Vorayuth admitted hitting Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian with his Ferrari, killing the patrol policeman in the early-hours incident on Sukhumvit Soi 47 in Bangkok.

After the incident, Mr Vorayuth's family requested that his blood be tested at a private hospital.

The blood was also sent to the state-run Ramathibodi Hospital for further laboratory examination, said Pol Lt Co Wiradol Thapthimdee, an investigator of Thong Lor Police Station responsible for the case.

High blood alcohol levels were confirmed but the type of other substances also detected in the test were not clearly indicated, he said.

"The blood test results came in medical terms in a foreign language, so they cannot be used as evidence yet," he said.

Meanwhile, Pol Lt Col Pannapon Nammuang, who allegedly attempted to make the Yoovidhya family's domestic caretaker a scapegoat in the case, had reported himself to the panel conducting a disciplinary probe against him.

Pol Lt Col Pannapon met the panel last Friday , one day after the day he was required to show up. He said he did not show up on the date requested because he did not want to face the press.

Pol Col Sunthorn, who heads the panel, said Pol Lt Col Pannapon would be questioned later before a conclusion is made whether he will be dismissed from duty.

BANGKOK POST

[Curt]

The attorney "explained the alcohol by saying that junior went home and had a couple beers to calm down.

Apparently, cocaine helps too!

[yy]

Let there be justice!!!

[Khun Don]

Red Bull clan pay B3m to victim's kin
Published: 26/09/2012 at 02:59 AMNewspaper section: News

The family of a policeman who was killed in a hit-and-run involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya has reached a compensation deal with the Red Bull clan.

Pol Lt Col Wiradol Thapthimdee, an investigator at Thong Lor police station responsible for the case, said the family of Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert have agreed to accept 3 million baht in compensation.

He said the payment has been made in a move which is seen as an attempt to avert a civil lawsuit.

Mr Vorayuth has been charged with hit-and-run and drink-driving after crashing into Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian with his Ferrari in the early hours of Sept 3 in Bangkok's Sukhumvit area.

Pol Lt Col Wiradol said the police investigators expect to conclude the probe against Mr Vorayuth at the end of this month.

He said police are waiting for details of the suspect's blood test results after traces of narcotics were found in his blood.

He said a fresh charge related to narcotics is likely to be pressed against the suspect.

Mr Vorayuth is a grandson of Chaleo Yoovidhya, the late founder of the Red Bull energy drink empire.

BANGKOK POST