Red Bull heir’s Ferrari ‘dragged police officer’s body down the street’

Published on 03/09/2012 14:56

The grandson of the creator of Red Bull, the energy drink, has been arrested after the Ferrari he was allegedly driving struck a police officer and dragged his dead body down a street in Bangkok.

• Oil streask traced to family estate

• Damaged Ferrari is confiscated by police

• Low-ranking officer tried to cover up incident

Vorayuth Yoovidhya, 27, was questioned after oil streaks were traced to his family’s gated estate in Thailand’s capital.

He was released on police bail of 500,000 baht (£10,000).

The officer in charge of the investigation into the case Maj Gen Anuchai Lekbamroong said Vorayuth driving the charcoal grey sports car, but said the officer’s motorcycle abruptly cut in front of his vehicle.

Bangkok’s top police official, Lt Gen Comronwit Toopgrajank, said he took charge of the investigation after a lower-ranking policeman initially tried to cover up the crime by turning in a bogus suspect.

Resign

Lt Gen Comronwit himself led a team of officers to search the compound of late Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhaya, one of Thailand’s wealthiest men before he passed away this year, and confiscated a Ferrari with a badly damaged front bumper and broken windscreen.

The victim, Sgt Maj Wichean Glanprasert, 47, was killed during a motorcycle patrol before dawn.

Thai media reported that the car dragged the officer and his motorcycle for several dozen feet as it sped through the residential neighbourhood.

Lt Gen Comronwit said he suspended the police officer who attempted to subvert the investigation.

“A policeman is dead. I can’t let this stand. If I let this case get away, I’d rather quit,” he told reporters. “I don’t care how powerful they are. If I can’t get the actual man in this case, I will resign.”

Vorayuth did not speak to the media but the family lawyer said the family will take responsibility for the damages.

The Yoovidhaya family was ranked the 4th richest in Thailand this year by Forbes magazine, with a net worth of £3.4 billion. Red Bull creator Chaleo Yoovidhaya died in his 80s in March, leaving his heirs a wide range of businesses, including shares in the globally popular energy drink brand, hospitals and property.

The family also co-owns the sole authorised importer of Ferrari cars in Thailand.

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