Red Bull Heir Arrested: Billionaire Faces 10 Years for Deadly Hit-and-Run
The Red Bull heir was arrested because of a hit-and-run accident in Bangkok, Thailand, according to police reports. Vorayuth Yoovidhya, the grandson of the energy drink creator, hit a police officer with his Ferrari.
The Red Bull heir is the 27-year-old progeny of Chaleo Yoovidhya, co-creator of the popular boost in can. Monday, Vorayuth was suspected of hitting Sgt. Maj. Wichean Glanprasert, 47, whom he told police cut in front of his charcoal grey Ferrari on his motorcycle. The Red Bull heir failed to report, however, that he dragged the body 330 feet after hitting him; authorities were only able to locate him because of a oil streak leading to his estate.
"We traced the gasoline trail which leaked onto the road until it led us to the house with the Ferrari," Lt. Col. Viradol Thubthimdee of Thonglor police station told Agence France-Presse.
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The early morning hit-and-run led to the suspect being questioned and held for reckless driving and escaping arrest from police. He was released on 500,000 baht ($15,000) bail, but not before a lower-ranking policeman attempted to hinder the investigation by turning in a false suspect.
''A policeman is dead. I can't let this stand. If I let this case get away, I'd rather quit,'' Lt. Ge. Comronwit Toopgrajank, the top police official in the city, told the Associated Press. ''I don't care how powerful they are. If I can't get the actual man in this case, I will resign.''
Vorayuth's family is certainly powerful- they were ranked 4th richest in Thailand by Forbes magazine with an estimated net worth of $5.4 billion. The money is built on the back of the famous energy drink Red Bull, which the suspect's grandfather started with Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz in the 1980s. The family has since transitioned into real estate, hospitals, and other businesses.
The family's immense wealth will not be a factor in the charges- accusations the 27-year-old suspect denies. Thudthimdee said the sentence for a conviction could be severe.
"He will be charged with causing death by driving and failing to stop and inform the authorities, with a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and a fine," he said.
