Third-Generation Thai Chaebol Hit-and-Run Fabrication Prosecutor Dismissed After 10 Years

Red Bull Founder’s Grandson Drives Ferrari Under Influence of Alcohol and Drugs, Hits and Kills Police Officer
Prosecutor in Charge Falsely Reports Speed Reduced from 177 km/h to Below 80 km/h

The Ferrari involved in an accident caused by Oraiyut Yuvitaya, grandson of the 2012 Red Bull co-founder, while driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] A prosecutor who tampered with key evidence to cover up a hit-and-run fatal accident caused by the third generation of a Thai conglomerate family 10 years ago was belatedly dismissed.

On the 4th (local time), according to local media such as The Nation, the Thai Prosecutor Commission (PPC) voted to dismiss prosecutor Chainarong Saengtongaram of the Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutor Chainarong was indicted on charges of fabricating evidence related to a traffic accident committed 10 years ago by the grandson of the co-founder of the global energy drink 'Red Bull.'

At the time of the incident, 27-year-old Orawit Yoovidhya was intoxicated with alcohol and drugs in September 2012 in downtown Bangkok. He was driving a luxury Ferrari at high speed when he hit a police officer on duty riding a motorcycle, killing him, and then fled the scene. Prosecutor Chainarong falsely reported the Ferrari’s speed, which was 177 km/h at the time, as less than 80 km/h. As a result, former Deputy Prosecutor General Nate Naksuk decided not to prosecute Orawit. What made the situation worse was that the non-prosecution decision was made only in 2020, eight years after the incident occurred.

Orawit was arrested immediately after the incident on five charges including speeding, hit-and-run, and reckless driving, but was released shortly after posting bail of 500,000 baht (approximately 18.76 million KRW). Afterwards, Orawit refused to appear in court eight times, citing illness or overseas business trips as excuses. When the court issued an arrest warrant in April 2017, he fled abroad. His last known whereabouts were in London, UK, in April 2017, and he has been missing since. In October 2020, Interpol issued an international arrest warrant for Orawit.

As the situation unfolded, public outrage surged in Thailand with accusations of 'justice for the rich,' leading to anti-government protests. Eventually, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered the formation of a fact-finding committee. The investigation revealed an organized conspiracy and protection involving politicians, prosecutors, police, and lawyers to cover up the case. Consequently, in September 2020, the police applied for and obtained an arrest warrant for Orawit on charges of negligent homicide due to reckless driving, hit-and-run, and illegal cocaine use. The prosecution also added the cocaine use charge to the existing negligent homicide charge, overturning the previous decision.

Former Deputy Prosecutor General Nate, who had issued the non-prosecution decision for Orawit, was also found to have acted inappropriately, prompting a PPC investigation. Although the PPC found no evidence that Nate had committed illegal acts, they unanimously decided to dismiss him from his prosecutor position belatedly, even though he had left the prosecution two years earlier. Prosecutor Chainarong had already submitted his resignation before the dismissal decision, and despite the dismissals, both Chainarong and Nate are entitled to receive pensions.

Meanwhile, due to amendments in Thailand’s drug laws, the statute of limitations for the illegal cocaine use charge against Orawit has long expired. According to the new drug law enacted in December last year, the penalty for cocaine use is imprisonment for one year, and the statute of limitations is five years. The only remaining charge against Orawit is negligent homicide, for which the statute of limitations lasts until September 3, 2027. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

Orawit’s grandfather, Chaleo Yoovidhya, developed the non-carbonated drink 'Krating Daeng' in 1962, which used sugar and caffeine. 'Krating Daeng' means 'Red Bull' in Thai, literally 'Red Bull.' Later, in 1984, Chaleo co-founded Red Bull GmbH with Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz. Currently, the chairman of Red Bull ranks second among Thailand’s richest people according to Forbes in 2022.