Vicha Mahakun
2 September 2020
Prayut Chan-o-cha received a report of the independent inquiry set up to investigate whether there was corruption in the failure of police and prosecution to take action in the hit and run accident which took place in 2012.
The Prime Minister (PM) speaking on Monday after he received the report vowed to take action against at least 10 individuals implicated in the report. The 10 are said to include both police officers and prosecutors. The PM also told press that a fact-finding panel would be set up to investigate the points highlighted by Vicha’s panel. He admitted that there were short comings but said that the whole system is not corrupt.
Vicha Mahakun, former anti-graft commissioner and currently dean of Rangsit University’s Faculty of Law led the inquiry. Vicha Mahakun said that every point made in the report can be fully supported. He also suggested that the statute of limitations on charges should be suspended for suspects who flee justice.
Vorayuth Yoovidhya, Red Bull scion, caused the death of a patrol police officer on September 3rd 2012, by his reckless driving. He fled the country. The report strongly criticized the delay in bringing charges and filing for an arrest warrant against the suspect. It said that that there were failures and mismanagement of the case. The report suggested that there was a vast conspiracy to assist the suspect in the case from the beginning of the investigation. A Red Notice Interpol arrest warrant issued for Mr Vorayuth was mysteriously removed from the international police agency’s website in March 2018.
Red Bull is a popular energy drink.
A police officer with the foreign affairs section who repeatedly asked about the issuance of an Interpol arrest notice for the fugitive from justice, was transferred. A public prosecutor who failed to charge the suspect, has since resigned. Despite his resignation, it is understood, that he will be charged. In this regards, new regulations from the Public Prosecutor Commission are to be published shortly in the Royal Gazette.
Bangkok Post reported.