seeks payment for a bribery state
PUBLISHED: 7 Jun 2024 at 04: 50
In response to allegations of corruption, Red Bull energy drink billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya has filed a second libel lawsuit against a media outlet and four people. The lawsuit seeks 50 million ringgit in damages.
Mr. Chalerm disagreed with claims made by former police officer and Sueb Jark Khao columnist Pol Col Wirut Sirisawatibutr that the energy drink tycoon had paid a 300 million baht bribe to protect his son Vorayuth, also known as” Boss,” from prosecution after he fatally struck a police officer on Sukhumvit Road near Thong Lor in 2012.
The lawsuit, which was filed by Mr Chalerm’s solicitor, Ampol Kaewpan, with the Criminal Court on Thursday  , listed Sueb Jark Khao, Pol Col Wirut, and three of the bank’s board members as the accused.
The lawsuit claimed that Sueb Jark Khao published Pol Col Wirut responses that allegedly contained false information about Mr. Vorayuth’s event on the company’s TikTok accounts on April 7.
According to the article, the community had paid up to 300 million baht in bribes to stop Mr. Vorayuth from facing charges in the infamous hit-and-run situation. He claimed that it also contained video and images of Mr. Vorayuth, but that was before adding that the claims made in the videos were unsupported.
The attorney said the information that sullied the mother’s reputation was broadcast across several platforms, including Sueb Jark Khao’s site and TikTok profile, where it has garnered over 6.4 million wants.
The claims have also had an impact on the reputation and image of the plaintiff and his businesses, which are both domestically and internationally, according to Mr. Ampol, because anyone can access the company’s social media platforms anywhere in the world.
The plaintiff also requests an official public apology to be published and made public on Sueb Jark Khao’s website and social media channels for seven days in addition to seeking 50 million baht in damages.
The apology must also be published in four Thai newspapers– Thai Rath, Daily News, Matichon, and Manager— for the same amount of time.
Over the same subject, Mr. Chalerm filed his first defamation lawsuit for 50 million baht on May 28 against senator and former Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt. Gen Sanit Mahathavorn and TV host Ubonrat Thaonoi.
Since he hit a police officer with his Ferrari on September 3, 2012, Mr. Vorayuth has been on the run. Since then, he has been cleared of many charges. In 2027, the last charge of reckless driving resulted in death.