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World :: Red Bull Heir Held Over Cop's Hit-And-Run Death

A grandson of the creator of the Red Bull energy drink has been arrested after a Ferrari knocked down a policeman and dragged his body 200 metres in a hit-and-run.

Vorayuth Yoovidhya was questioned after police traced oil streaks for several streets to his gated property in a wealthy neighbourhood of the Thai capital Bangkok.

Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert, 47, was on a pre-dawn motorcycle patrol when he was killed on Monday morning.

His body and bike were dragged down the road before the sports car sped off.

Bangkok's senior police official, Lt Gen Comronwit Toopgrajank, said he took charge of the investigation after an officer tried to cover up the crime by turning in a bogus suspect.

He said: "A policeman is dead. I can't let this stand. If I let this case get away, I'd rather quit. I don't care how powerful they are. If I can't get the actual man in this case, I will resign."

Officers searched the compound of late Red Bull founder Chaleo Yoovidhaya, one of Thailand's wealthiest men before he passed away this year, and confiscated a dark grey Ferrari with a dented bumper.

Police said Vorayuth, 27, is accused of causing death by driving and failing to stop. He denies the charges.

His family was ranked fourth richest in Thailand this year by Forbes magazine, with a net worth of €4.29bn.

His grandfather Chaleo Yoovidhya was one of Thailand's richest men thanks to the global success of the Red Bull empire he co-founded with Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz in the 1980s.

Chaleo died in March aged 89, leaving his heirs a wide range of businesses, including shares in Red Bull, hospitals and property. The family also co-owns a company that is the sole authorised importer of Ferrari cars in Thailand.