The clock is ticking loudly for Thai prosecutors seeking elusive Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya, as the statute of limitations on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident is set to expire today.

Yoovidhya is the prime suspect in a 2012 hit-and-run incident that killed a Thai policeman. Since charges were brought against him five years ago, Yoovidhya has never appeared in court, citing reasons that range from business meetings to illnesses.

His evasions from court hearings have allowed his charges to – one-by-one – expire under their respective statute of limitations; however, a charge of reckless driving causing death does not expire until 2027.

The authorities' inability to indict him has sparked widespread discussions about the failure of the Thai justice system to prosecute the wealthy. Yoovidhya is the grandson to the co-founder of Red Bull and is a member of one of Thailand’s richest families. 

With Interpol issuing an international arrest warrant for the young playboy last week, CGTN looks back at the sequence of events leading up to him becoming an international fugitive. 

Sgt. Maj. Wichean Glanprasert is killed early in the morning by a speeding black Ferrari in central Bangkok. Police officers follow the trail of brake fluid to Vorayuth Yoovidhya’s home, finding the Ferrari with a badly damaged bumper and a leaking engine. Bangkok’s top officer, Lt Gen. Comronwit Toopgrajank, takes over the investigation after a low-level policeman initially tries to cover up the crime by turning in a driver employed by the family. Yoovidhya is arrested at home, with his family paying the 15,000-US-dollar bail later that day.

Out on bail, Yoovidhya and his mother make a surprise appearance at the funeral rites of Sgt. Maj. Glanprasert.

Wichean’s family accepts a settlement of 100,000 US dollars, eliminating their option to take Yoovidhya to court. This does not protect Yoovidhya from criminal charges brought by prosecutors.

Six months after the hit-and-run incident, three charges are brought against Yoovidhya: speeding, leaving the scene of an accident, and reckless driving causing death.

The attorney-general promises to indict Yoovidhya, but takes this back after Yoovidhya’s lawyers contest the fairness of the speeding charge.

The statute of limitation is reached for the charge of speeding. Yoovidhya fails to show up to court for the seventh time. The prosecutor orders the police to arrest him.

In a search of Yoovidhya and his friends’ social media accounts, the Associated Press (AP) find images of Yoovidhya’s lavish lifestyle including visits to Japan, Abu Dhabi and Nice, France.

Yoovidhya’s lawyers file a complaint of unfair treatment to the National Legislative Assembly, Thailand’s military-appointed parliament, successfully postponing requests to report to the prosecutor’s office.

Yoovidhya is summoned again to court, but fails to show up. An AP reporter spots him outside of his home in London, far from Thailand.

Before his scheduled court appearance, Yoovidhya flies to Singapore. AP sources state that he later flew to Taiwan.

His disappearance causes the Foreign Ministry to revoke his passport and the government states it would seek help for his extradition.

Interpol issues a “red alert” calling for member countries and regions to arrest and extradite him back to Thailand.