Most people know Red Bull’s owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, the Austrian entrepreneur who has made a fortune out of the energy drink and among other things, owns not one, but two Formula 1 teams and a couple of soccer clubs.
What is not so widely known is that Mateschitz had a partner in establishing his empire. His name was Chaleo Yoovidhaya and up to his demise earlier this year at the age of 80, had built up a sizeable fortune of around US$5.4 billion, which put him on the 205th place in Forbe’s list of the world’s billionaires.
On September 3, Bangkok police announced that they had arrested Yoovidhaya’s grandson, Vorayuth Voocidhaya, for allegedly being involved in a hit-and-run accident that resulted in a police officer’s death.
According to the Thai police, Vorayuth hit Sgt Mak Wichean Glanprasert, a motorcycle-riding police officer, with his car and reportedly dragged him for some distance. The 47-year old officer suffered fatal neck and bone injuries while the suspect allegedly fled the crime scene.
Thai police announced that they had followed a petrol trail, which led them to Yoovidhaya’s family estate where they found a grey Ferrari FF with a damaged front end and a smashed windshield.
Police chief Lt Gen Comronwit Toopgrajank went personally to the estate to oversee the investigation. “A policeman is dead”, he told local reporters, according to 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.”
He was referring to a lower-ranked officer who tried to cover up the matter and the police superintended, who was transferred elsewhere after arresting another suspect.
Yoovidhaya is now being charged with causing death by driving and failing to stop at the scene. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
You can watch the damaged FF, as well as the arrest, in the videos right after the jump.
By Andrew Tsaousis
Story References: BBC via Autoblog
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