Former prosecutors sentenced in connection with 'Boss' hit-and-run incident

High-Flying Hit-and-Run: former Officials Sentenced in Red Bull Scion's Evasion of Justice

In a twist of justice, former deputy attorney-general Nate Naksuk and ex-prosecutor Chainarong Saengthong-aram were slapped with jail sentences for aiding Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya, the playboy heir of the Red Bull empire, in the 2012 hit-and-run scandal that left a police officer dead in Bangkok.

On Tuesday, the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases handed out a three-year sentence for Nate and a two-year sentence for Chainarong, following a marathon court battle against eight defendants accused of covering up evidence to help the scion of one of Thailand's wealthiest families evade justice.

While former national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung and five others were acquitted, prosecutors had accused the eight defendants of colluding to alter witness statements and reduce the recorded speed of Yoovidhya's Ferrari. The manipulation of evidence led to the dismissal of charges for reckless driving causing a fatality, a decision that Chainarong was found guilty of violating Section 172 of the Corruption Prevention and Suppression Act.

Nate, on the other hand, was found guilty of dereliction of duty by a public official under Section 157 of the Criminal Code, as he was accused of making decisions without relying on facts.

The sentenced duo was released on bail pending their appeals, with each putting up 200,000 baht as a security bond.

Vorayuth Yoovidhya, who allegedly crashed his Ferrari into Police Sergeant Major Wichian Klanprasert's motorcycle and dragged the victim's limp body for about 200 meters without alerting authorities, remains a fugitive from justice. He is believed to be living primarily in London where his family holds vast properties[1][4]. Despite several charges against him, including reckless driving causing death and failing to aid accident victims, some charges have expired due to their statutes of limitations[1]. The only remaining charge against him carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail, with an expiration date in September 2027[1][4].

Meanwhile, the Yoovidhya family, worth an estimated $25.7 billion according to a Bloomberg report[2], has been embroiled in a high-profile scandal that has sparked public outrage, questioning the impunity enjoyed by the wealthy and influential in Thailand[3].

[1]https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-crime-red-bull/trying-to-evade-a-hit-and-run-accusation-thai-red-bull-heir-s-case-in-jerusalem-idUSKCN27B20I[2]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-24/asias-richest-families-from-samsung-to-walton-are-shrinking-their-empires[3]https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3097250/why-thai-red-bull-heir-vorayuth-yoovidhya-is-still-running[4]https://www.wsj.com/articles/thailands-playboy-billionaire-who-missed-court-at-hit-and-run-faces-latest-arrest-bid-11590486802[5]https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/8/11/thai-police-drops-speeding-charge-against-red-bull-heir

The former prosecutor, Thawatchai, was found guilty of violating Section 172 of the Correctness Prevention and Suppression Act, in connection with the suppression of evidence related to the crime-and-justice case of the Red Bull heir, Chainarong.
The high-profile case of the Red Bull scion, Vorayuth Yoovidhya, who crashed his Ferrari and allegedly fled the scene without assistance, has led to a series of convictions in the politics sphere, involving general-news figures such as prosecutor Chainarong and the former deputy attorney-general, Thawatchai.
Despite the sentencing of Nate and Chainarong, Vorayuth Yoovidhya, the playboy heir of the Red Bull empire, continues to evade justice, living primarily in London, a move that has sparked public outrage, questioning the impunity enjoyed by the wealthy and influential in Thailand.
The Yoovidhya family, known for their wealth in the bills-million range, has been embroiled in a high-profile scandal that has cast a long shadow over the crime-and-justice sector, with the hit-and-run case being a prime example of the politics at play in Thailand.