BANGKOK: Thai prosecutors on late Friday announced their decision to indict Red Bull scion Vorayuth Yoovidhya on charges of cocaine use and reckless driving, which caused the death of a junior police officer in the hit-and-run case in 2012.

The decision to indict Vorayuth came two months after public outrage prompted Thai authorities, including the prime minister, to re-launch a series of investigations into how and why a wealthy family was allowed amnesty without having to face the Thai law.

"We want to ensure the Thai public that the judicial system is fair nor flawed," said Itthiphon Kaewthip, deputy director-general of the Department of Criminal Litigation under the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG).

Itthiphon said that new investigations found that Vorayuth had taken cocaine, prior to taking the wheels of his Ferrari and crashing into the junior police officer, leading to the latter's death.

Thai netizens on various social media platform on Friday night lauded the OAG's decision to arraign Vorayuth, with commentaries suggesting "confidence in the Thai judicial system."

Two months ago, a deputy attorney-general and an acting police chief decided to drop charges against the Red Bull scion, citing that compensations toward the family of the dead junior officer had been fulfilled.

There have also been reports that forensic and investigation officers were instructed to "shush" facts regarding the hit-and run case.

Itthiphon said the next step would be to seek the extradition of Vorayuth, as well as to coordinate with Interpol to arrest him.

Vorayuth had left Thailand since the incident. - Xinhua