Colonel Sampan Luangsajjakul of the Royal Thai Police told CNN “The Office of the Attorney General informed us of its final decision not to indict Mr. Vorayuth Yoovidhya on June 12. So we have proceeded to inform him (Yoovidhya) of the decision and the revocation of the arrest warrant. “
A letter sent to Yoovidhya at his home in Bangkok by the Thonglor Police Station and seen by CNN says: “The Office of the Attorney General has decided to acquit Mr. Vorayuth Yoovidhya on all charges.” The National Police Commissioner “has not contested the decision” and “we have proceeded to revoke the arrest warrant.” The document did not provide further details.
Yoovidhya, 28, was behind the wheel of his Ferrari on September 3, 2012, when he collided with a police officer on duty on a motorcycle in central Bangkok, killing the police officer. Yoovidhya was subsequently charged with drunken driving, negligent death and committing a blow and fleeing.
Investigators followed the path of the leaked oil from the scene of the accident to Yoovidhya’s home, according to Maj. Gen. Parinya Jansuriya.
Dozens of police surrounded the mansion before entering with a search warrant, where they found a heavily damaged black Ferrari with a smashed front and its deployed airbags.
Yoovidhya admitted to driving the car and hitting the motorcycle, but claimed that the bicycle suddenly cut him off, said Major General of Police Aunuchi Lekbumrung at the time.
He was released on bail of 500,000 baht, about $ 16,000.
Yoovidhya is a prominent member of one of the wealthiest families in Thailand. His grandfather, Chaleo Yoovidhya, formulated the Krathing Daeng, or Red Bull, energy drink, which first became popular with Thai workers. He joined Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz in 1987 and together they created an international beverage brand.
The case sparked outrage in Thailand in 2012 with online forums denouncing the Thai justice system for its perceived indulgence towards defendants with money and connections.
An alleged attempt to cover up the crime, which involved police arresting a suspect who was trying to drive his Ferrari at the time of the incident, led to the suspension of a police officer and caused even more anger.
Vorayuth Yoovidhya also allegedly paid the victim’s family the Thai baht 3 million ($ 97,000) in an attempt to stop a civil lawsuit, police said.
Chalerm Yoovidhya attended night services for the officer at the local temple after the incident, said Natthanan Klanpraert, the victim’s sister-in-law.
The suspect and his mother also stopped at the temple, but the victim’s family was not nearby, he said.
CNN has reached out to Red Bull for comment.
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