Red Bull heir's hit-and-run ignites social outrages in Thailand

An anti-Red Bull campaign has emerged online in Thailand fueled by public anger at the apparent unwillingness to prosecute the heir of the energy drink maker for a hit-and-run accident in 2012, Xinhua news agency reported Monday, citing local media.

The campaign calls on people to "Say no to Red Bull" and stop purchasing the energy drink.

Worayuth Yoovidhya, the grandson of late Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhaya /VCG Photo

An arrest warrant was issued last month for Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya, five years after he allegedly smashed his Ferrari into a police officer in 2012 and sped away, dragging the body along a downtown Bangkok road for hundreds of meters.

The 32-year-old faced charges of reckless driving causing death, speeding and hit-and-run. But he never appeared in court, telling prosecutors through his lawyer that he was too sick or out of the country on business, Xinhua reported.

Local media meanwhile reported he continued to live a luxurious lifestyle, traveling in and out of the country, attending Formula 1 Grand Prix races with the Red Bull team and visiting beach resorts.

Thai prosecutors vowed on a press conference on April 27 to seek the first arrest warrant for the heir to the Red Bull fortune. /VCG Photo ‍

In late April, before a new summons to court, Vorayuth left Thailand for Singapore but he later abandoned his private jet there and his current whereabouts are unknown, according to reports. On Friday, Thailand’s ministry of foreign affairs finally revoked his passport.

Many have questioned how it could take so long to issue an arrest warrant in a deadly accident, especially one involving a police officer, and have slammed the country's judicial system and the apparent impunity awarded to those with money and influence.

Vorayuth's grandfather was the co-founder of Red Bull along with Austrian Didi Mateschitz, and reportedly left behind a fortune of more than 20 billion US dollars at his death in 2012.