No respect for the law or society

However, time and again, we Thais have proven that our “Written laws [are] like spiders’ webs, and would catch … the weak and the poor, but easily be broken by the mighty and rich,” as Anacharsis wrote. That must not happen this time, for I hope that the Red Bull clan takes His Majesty’s words to heart in their handling of his case: “To make the country function well, seniors in the country should set good examples for other people in the country to follow.”

The purpose of a judicial system is to punish and deter wrongdoing. To such a wealthy clan, the amount paid to the victim’s family hardly qualifies as petty cash, and is neither likely to be much of a punishment or deterrent. This is especially so when we consider that the killer and/or his family tried in every way they could to obstruct justice: Worrayuth fled the scene of the killing, running home to mummy and daddy. His clan then deliberately put  the welfare of one family member above the common good by blocking police access to the lethal weapon until a search warrant was obtained, and allegedly had a family driver try to serve as scapegoat.

The Red Bull clan should heed His Majesty’s words, and insist that justice not only be done but be seen to be done – which would involve much more than paying money if the purpose is to punish and deter.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok