Tangled ‘Boss’ Tale Returns to Haunt Those Involved
A long-running and closely watched saga over alleged efforts to help Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya evade justice has resurfaced, reigniting public debate and potentially drawing more defendants into legal jeopardy on appeal.
The case stems from a fatal 2012 hit-and-run in which Mr Vorayuth drove a Ferrari into a motorcycle ridden by Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert on Sukhumvit Road, dragging the officer’s body for more than 200 metres. For years, the case appeared stalled, fuelling widespread public anger.
Fresh scrutiny followed the circulation of excerpts from an April 2025 court judgement that revisited one of the most contentious elements of the case: the Ferrari’s speed at the time of the crash. The ruling challenged long-held assumptions and reopened questions about official conduct and the integrity of earlier investigations.
Disputed speed evidence
The controversy intensified after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) uncovered irregularities in how the case was handled between 2016 and 2020. At the heart of the issue was a dramatic change in the Ferrari’s estimated speed.
Initially, Pol Col Thanasit Taengchan, a former forensic officer, calculated the speed at 177km/h — a figure consistent with reckless driving. Years later, a revised estimate of 79km/h emerged, just below the legal threshold of 80km/h. This lower figure became the basis for then–deputy attorney-general Nate Naksuk to drop the reckless driving charge, sparking allegations that evidence had been manipulated to shield Mr Vorayuth.
The NACC subsequently charged former national police chief Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmoung and seven others with conspiring to alter key evidence.
Court weighs conflicting calculations
According to the April 2025 judgement, the court was presented with two irreconcilable sets of speed evidence.
Set A placed the speed below 80km/h and was supported by a central traffic expert, the court’s own expert and Dr Saiprasit Koetniyom, a former automotive safety expert at King Mongkut University of Technology Bangkok.
Set B was the 177km/h calculation by Pol Col Thanasit, presented by the prosecution.
The court ruled that Pol Col Thanasit’s calculation was scientifically unreliable, inadequately validated and contradicted by other expert testimony. It noted his heavy reliance on CCTV footage despite a lack of prior experience in speed-related accident physics, as well as inconsistencies and changes in his conclusions.
Ultimately, the court found the credible speed range to be between 76 and 80km/h.
Verdicts and sentences
Because vehicle speed was central to determining negligence, the revised assessment reshaped the legal interpretation of the case. On April 22, 2025, six of the eight defendants were acquitted, including Pol Gen Somyot, Dr Saiprasit and several senior police officers and officials. The court found insufficient evidence to prove they had conspired to alter evidence with corrupt intent.
Two former prosecutors were convicted. Nate Naksuk received a three-year prison sentence for dropping the reckless driving charge, while former senior prosecutor Chainarong Saengthongaram was sentenced to two years for altering evidence to reduce the calculated speed to 76.1km/h.
Divided reactions
The judgement has split opinion. Some legal experts praised the court for weighing the evidence objectively, arguing the 177km/h estimate lacked scientific rigour.
However, Pol Maj Chavalit Laohaudomphan, a former forensic officer involved in the original investigation and now an MP with the People’s Party, strongly disagreed. Writing on Facebook on Dec 31, he insisted the Ferrari was travelling at extremely high speed, arguing that the lower estimates contradicted basic physics and relied on flawed measurements.
Appeal underway, suspect still at large
In August 2025, the Office of the Attorney-General appealed the acquittals, seeking convictions against all defendants except the two already sentenced. The Appeal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases is now reviewing the case, relying solely on existing evidence. A ruling is expected within 8–12 months.
Meanwhile, Mr Vorayuth remains a fugitive. Most charges in the fatal crash case have expired under the statute of limitations, leaving only reckless driving causing death, which expires on Sept 3, 2027. An Interpol Red Notice remains in effect, but the trial cannot proceed until he is arrested.
A defining question
Whether the Ferrari was travelling at 177km/h or under 80km/h remains the pivotal issue shaping both legal outcomes and public trust. The Appeal Court’s decision may yet determine whether this high-profile case closes with acquittals upheld — or reopens allegations of evidence manipulation in one of Thailand’s most scrutinised justice-system controversies.
