The 8 defendants indicted in relation to a 2012 fatal hit-and-run case involving Red Bull heir, Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, have pleaded not guilty. They include Thailand’s former national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, and the former deputy attorney-general, Nate Naksuk.
All 8 appeared at the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases yesterday, September 10, to enter their not guilty pleas, the Bangkok Post reports.
The court has scheduled a period of 7 months to conclude the trial, citing intense public interest in the case. It has requested that all parties adhere to that schedule, adding that defendants, prosecutors, and lawyers must all refrain from giving media interviews in relation to the trial.
It’s understood that the prosecution has submitted no fewer than 30,000 pages of documentation as evidence, and is presenting 21 individual witnesses and material witnesses. Examination of the evidence is scheduled to begin on December 3.
The trial is the result of a probe by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which found that the case against Vorayuth had been “grossly mishandled”. As a result, the 8 defendants were arraigned on August 29. While granted bail, they have been prohibited from leaving Thailand unless given court approval.
Wichian Klanprasert, a Bangkok police officer, died on September 3, 2012, when his motorbike was struck by the Red Boss heir’s Ferrari, and he was dragged 200 metres down the road in the Thong Lor district of the capital.
Vorayuth fled the scene, failing to help the victim or inform the authorities of what had happened. He later managed to flee the country and has lived overseas since, having never faced justice.
The statute of limitations means most of the charges against him have expired, with the exception of the death by reckless driving one, which expires in 2027.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
