Prosecutors seek arrest warrant for Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya

Thai authorities are seeking an arrest warrant for an heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune after he failed to appear for his indictment in the hit-and-run death of a policeman, a prosecutor said on Monday.

A lawyer for Vorayuth Yoovidhya said the 30-year-old heir was on a business trip in Singapore and was unable to return to Thailand for the indictment because he fell ill.

His absence means a speeding charge will be dropped because the statute of limitations expires on Tuesday. He still faces charges of causing death by reckless driving and not stopping to help, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Prosecutor Ruecha Krairiksh said Vorayuth showed an intention to flee by not appearing for the indictment.

“Prosecutors have discussed and decided that the defendant appeared to be fleeing and we will oppose his bail request during the trial process,” Ruecha said.

It is the sixth time Vorayuth’s indictment has been postponed since he allegedly slammed his Ferrari into a police officer at high speed and dragged his body down a Bangkok street last September. Police traced oil streaks to his family’s estate in a nearby wealthy neighbourhood, but a local police superintendent initially attempted to cover up the heir’s involvement by arresting a bogus suspect.