Further updated: Rich peoples’ “justice”

PPT has to mention briefly the New York Times report on the hit-and-run case involving the Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya, the late Chaleo Yoovidhya’s grandson. He is alleged to have driven a Ferrari over a policeman and his motorcycle, driven on, dragging the policeman and leaving him dead, before charging home.

Of course, Vorayuth is from a fabulously wealthy family and has a story of the death being the victim’s fault.

Initially, the local police “attempted to cover up the heir’s involvement by arresting a bogus suspect…”. That was re-thought when the media lit up, and Vorayuth now “faces charges of causing death by reckless driving but was released on 500,000 baht ($15,900) bail.”

Of course, this is just another case of rich people’s “justice.” Just a few days ago, the teenager daughter of a general and with a privileged name (Devahastin Na Ayudhya) and powerful relatives who, as an unlicensed driver, had driven her car into a minivan, killing nine people in 2010, got a suspended sentence. Yep, responsible for the deaths of nine citizens and got no jail time. The rich kid has never apologized but faces huge compensation claims, which her family will now proceed to “negotiate” down.

Wouldn’t lese majeste victims, not accused of killing anyone, just love to have bail. Any bail. Few of them ever get off or have a suspended sentence (Chiranuch Premchaiporn being an exception). These rich kids who kill people get leniency, support and cover-ups while those who dare to speak of the monarchy tend to get locked up for years.

Double standards abound in a Thailand where the rich can get away with murder.

Updates: We changed the reference to daughter of a general as we have been unable to re-confirm this. And, for those interested in comparisons, a red shirt leader, Jeng Dokchik, has had his request for a renewal of bail rejected. His crime is to have been politically charged as a “terrorist” and then is said to have said nasty things about untouchable judges. It seems it is less a crime to actually kill people while driving, if you are a son or daughter of the elite.