Eight people, including 2 top officials, are to be arraigned in the infamous (if not quite old now) hit-and-run case involving Red Bull heir, Vorayuth ‘Boss’ Yoovidhya.
Vorayuth, who remains on the run overseas, is accused of killing police officer Wichian Klanprasert, by ploughing his speeding Ferrari into the officer’s motorbike, and dragging him down the road. The hit-and-run took place in the Sukhumvit district of Bangkok on the night of September 4, 2012, with Vorayuth subsequently managing to evade arrest and flee the country.
Some of those who allegedly helped him escape justice are now in the firing line, and they include former national police chief, Somyot Poompanmuang, and former deputy attorney-general, Nate Naksuk. Both are being arraigned by public prosecutors for their alleged mishandling of the case against the Red Bull heir.
The other 6 facing charges are senior police officers Thawatchai Mekprasertuk and Veeradol Taptimdee, Chainarong Sangthongaram, Thanit Buakhiew, Chuchai Lertpongadisorn, and Associate Professor Saiprasit Kerdniyom.
All 8 suspects will report first to the Office of Investigation before being taken to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on Thursday, August 29.
Watcharin Phanurat from the Office of Investigation says Nate faces a charge of malfeasance in office as a result of his dismissal of Vorayuth’s speeding charge. Others will be charged with conspiring to alter the speed of Vorayuth’s Ferrari in the police report, to conceal the fact that he had been driving at speed when he struck and killed Wichian.
According to a Thai PBS World report, the case is expected to take another year to complete. Watcharin says he’s not bothered by the senior ranking of some of those involved, saying it’s his job to tell the public the truth about what happened in the case.
Meanwhile, the expiry of the statute of limitations means most of the charges against Vorayuth, including speeding and failing to help an accident victim, have now been dropped. The only charge still pending is reckless driving causing the death of another.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
