ID :
141114
Tue, 09/07/2010 - 16:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/141114
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Suthep rules out renewed tension with Saudi after senior police officer's promotion
BANGKOK, Sept 7 - Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Tuesday assured that the promotion of a senior police officer allegedly involved in the disappearance of a Saudi businessman will not renew conflict between the two countries.
His statement came on the heels of the Gulf country's second statement condemning the latest promotion of the controversial police officer.
The deputy premier made the comments after the Saudi government issued the second statement criticising the promotion of Pol Lt Gen Somkid Boonthanom as assistant national police chief and calling for transparency, justice and non-interference in the case.
Thailand's Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) early this year indicted five policemen and an ex-officer in connection with the disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili in 1990, exactly one month before its statute of limitations expires on February 12, 2010.
One of them was Provincial Police Region 5 Commander Pol Lt Gen Somkid.
Mr Suthep said the Thai government has explained to the Saudi Charge d'Affaires to Thailand that Gen Somkid's promotion was conducted in accordance with the law and regulations of the Police Commission.
The Thai deputy premier expressed hope that the Saudi government will understand the decision and pledged to continue explaining the issue until the Gulf country understands.
Mr Suthep said he does not believe Gen Somkid's promotion will renew tension between the governments of both countries and that the appointment will not be an obstacle or has any impact over the case of the disappearing Saudi businessman.
Mr Suthep added that Mr al-Ruwaili's case has been brought up again by the Department of Special Investigation and once the case is in court, no one can interfere the judicial process.
The case dates back to the late 80s when Kriangkrai Techamong, a Thai worker employed in the palace of a Saudi prince, stole jewellery and other valuables from palace and escaped to Thailand.
Thai police retrieved some of the stolen items, but a number of valuable gems and jewellery pieces have not been recovered.
When the recovered treasures were returned to Saudi Arabia, the main jewel, the "Blue Diamond", was proved to have been replaced with an artificial stone.
A Thai police general has been imprisoned for his involvement in the scandal but the case remains unresolved, including the murder of several Saudi diplomats and the disappearance of a Saudi businessman, which resulted in the downgrade of Thailand's diplomatic relations with Saudi to the chargé d'affaires level.
Gen Somkid has been the prime suspect in the premeditated murder of Mr al-Ruwaili, who was believed to have held vital information on the murder of four Saudi diplomats in Bangkok.
He was last seen in a car with Saudi consul Abdullah al-Besri on February 12, 1990, and was reported missing three days later. His car was found abandoned in the Bangkok Christian Hospital's parking lot and the consul was murdered after being seen with Mr al-Ruwaili.
It was widely believed that Mr al-Ruwaili was kidnapped by police investigating the Saudi consul's murder, and that he was tortured and later killed by his captors to cover up their actions. (MCOT online news)
His statement came on the heels of the Gulf country's second statement condemning the latest promotion of the controversial police officer.
The deputy premier made the comments after the Saudi government issued the second statement criticising the promotion of Pol Lt Gen Somkid Boonthanom as assistant national police chief and calling for transparency, justice and non-interference in the case.
Thailand's Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) early this year indicted five policemen and an ex-officer in connection with the disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili in 1990, exactly one month before its statute of limitations expires on February 12, 2010.
One of them was Provincial Police Region 5 Commander Pol Lt Gen Somkid.
Mr Suthep said the Thai government has explained to the Saudi Charge d'Affaires to Thailand that Gen Somkid's promotion was conducted in accordance with the law and regulations of the Police Commission.
The Thai deputy premier expressed hope that the Saudi government will understand the decision and pledged to continue explaining the issue until the Gulf country understands.
Mr Suthep said he does not believe Gen Somkid's promotion will renew tension between the governments of both countries and that the appointment will not be an obstacle or has any impact over the case of the disappearing Saudi businessman.
Mr Suthep added that Mr al-Ruwaili's case has been brought up again by the Department of Special Investigation and once the case is in court, no one can interfere the judicial process.
The case dates back to the late 80s when Kriangkrai Techamong, a Thai worker employed in the palace of a Saudi prince, stole jewellery and other valuables from palace and escaped to Thailand.
Thai police retrieved some of the stolen items, but a number of valuable gems and jewellery pieces have not been recovered.
When the recovered treasures were returned to Saudi Arabia, the main jewel, the "Blue Diamond", was proved to have been replaced with an artificial stone.
A Thai police general has been imprisoned for his involvement in the scandal but the case remains unresolved, including the murder of several Saudi diplomats and the disappearance of a Saudi businessman, which resulted in the downgrade of Thailand's diplomatic relations with Saudi to the chargé d'affaires level.
Gen Somkid has been the prime suspect in the premeditated murder of Mr al-Ruwaili, who was believed to have held vital information on the murder of four Saudi diplomats in Bangkok.
He was last seen in a car with Saudi consul Abdullah al-Besri on February 12, 1990, and was reported missing three days later. His car was found abandoned in the Bangkok Christian Hospital's parking lot and the consul was murdered after being seen with Mr al-Ruwaili.
It was widely believed that Mr al-Ruwaili was kidnapped by police investigating the Saudi consul's murder, and that he was tortured and later killed by his captors to cover up their actions. (MCOT online news)
