A former Thai police chief will face charges for allegedly helping a Red Bull scion avoid justice

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai prosecutors announced on Tuesday their intention to indict a former national police chief for obstructing legal proceedings against an heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune. The heir, accused of killing a Bangkok police officer in a 2012 hit-and-run, has been shielded from justice, sparking outrage over the preferential treatment afforded to the wealthy and well-connected in Thailand.

Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, grandson of Red Bull co-creator Chaleo Yoovidhya, stands at the center of this controversy, with his family's fortune estimated at $20 billion by Forbes magazine.

Somyot Poompanmoung, who served as police chief from 2014 to 2015, and several other individuals face charges of abusing their power to assist Vorayuth in evading prosecution. Somyot, accused by the National Anti-Corruption Commission of tampering with evidence related to Vorayuth's speeding car at the time of the accident, is among those implicated.

In addition to Somyot, the Office of the Attorney General will also indict seven others, including police officers, a lawyer, an engineering specialist, and a former deputy attorney general, in connection with the case.

The incident occurred when Vorayuth allegedly drove a Ferrari into the rear of a traffic policeman’s motorcycle on a major Bangkok thoroughfare. The officer, Wichean Klunprasert, was fatally thrown from his motorbike, prompting an investigation that led authorities to the Yoovidhya family’s opulent compound nearby.

Compounding the tragedy, Wichean's family accepted 3 million baht ($83,000) from the Yoovidhya family in exchange for refraining from further legal action.

For years, Vorayuth eluded court appearances, fleeing Thailand just days before a warrant was issued in 2017 and subsequently having his Thai passport revoked. Most charges against him have lapsed due to the statute of limitations, with only the charge of causing death by reckless driving remaining viable until 2027.

Despite legal repercussions, including an Interpol Red Notice, Vorayuth has maintained a lavish lifestyle, jetting around the globe in private Red Bull aircraft to attend Formula One events, enjoying snowboarding trips in Japan, and leisurely cruises in Venice. His luxurious escapades, uncovered by an Associated Press investigation, have stoked public outrage.

Vorayuth's current whereabouts remain a mystery.