Interpol issues red notice for 'Boss' over hit-and-run

In this file photo taken on Sept 3, 2012, police officers look at a Ferrari that was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident during their investigation at Thong Lor police station in Bangkok. (AFP photo)
In this file photo taken on Sept 3, 2012, police officers look at a Ferrari that was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident during their investigation at Thong Lor police station in Bangkok. (AFP photo)

Interpol has issued a "red notice" to arrest the fugitive Thai inheritor of the Red Bull billions for his role in a fatal hit-and-run, police said Sunday.

The move by the international police organisation is the latest in the years-long saga surrounding Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya who crashed his Ferrari in 2012, killing Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert.

The charges against Mr Vorayuth, who is the grandson of Red Bull's co-founder, were dropped in July -- sparking public outrage from Thais who saw it as an example of impunity enjoyed by the kingdom's elite.

The Attorney General's Office last month announced fresh charges against Mr Vorayuth of reckless driving causing death and cocaine use.

 
The national police deputy spokesman confirmed Sunday a red notice -- Interpol's most urgent alert -- was issued earlier this week.

"After we received the confirmation, we then passed our request to 194 member countries asking for assistance from them," he told AFP.

"We have to do whatever it takes to... ultimately bring him back to the country because it is a serious crime."

A red notice for Mr Vorayuth had not been published on the Interpol website as of Sunday afternoon.

The fugitive scion fled the country back in 2017 on a private jet.

After charges against him were dropped in July, a probe conducted by Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha's office concluded the entire investigation had been "compromised".

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Vocabulary

  • alert: to tell someone in authority about a danger or problem so that they can take action to deal with - แจ้งให้ทราบ, บอก
  • Attorney General (noun): the top legal officer in some countries, who advises the leader of the government - อัยการสูงสุด
  • charge: to accuse someone officially of committing a crime - ตั้งข้อกล่าวหา
  • compromised: when something is weakened and you cannot trust in it for protection anymore -
  • elite: the richest, most powerful, best educated or most highly trained group in a society - คนที่มีอภิสิทธิ์ที่สุด
  • fugitive (noun): someone who has been accused of doing something illegal and is trying to avoid being caught by the police - ผู้หลบหนี
  • impunity: freedom from any risk of being punished for doing something wrong or bad - การได้รับยกเว้นจากการลงโทษ
  • Interpol: an international organization that enables the police forces of different countries to help each other to solve crimes - องค์การตำรวจสากล
  • saga: a long complicated series of related usually negative events - การเล่าอย่างยืดยาว
  • scion (noun): a young member of a family, especially a famous or important one - ทายาท
  • urgent: needing to be dealt with immediately - ที่เร่งด่วน
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