ID :
99527
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 14:10
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/99527
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Attorney General indicts five police, ex-officer in Saudi businessman’s disappearance
BANGKOK, Jan 12 (TNA) - Thailand's Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has indicted Pol Lt-Gen Somkid Boonthanom, chief of Provincial Police Region 5, and four other active and former police officer in connection with the disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili in 1990.
The indictment took place exactly one month before its statute of limitations on the case ends on February 12.
Mr al-Ruwaili has been presumed dead since he went missing in February 1990.
OAG Special Cases Division director-general Thanapit Moonlapruek said the panel considering the case agreed that evidence gathered by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) was sufficient to try the case and decided to prosecute Gen Somkid and four other officers for the murder of Mr al-Ruwaili.
All five were present at the OAG and were transferred to the criminal court for further legal procedures. Their lawyers are in the process of seeking bail.
The first hearing has been set for March 29.
Gen Somkid is the prime suspect in the premeditated murder of Mr al-Ruwaili, who is believed to hold vital information on the killings 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 Saudi 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.
The Saudi authorities also want to see developments in the case before its statute of limitations ends on February 12.
Charge d'Affaires Babil Ashri told TNA after learning the latest developments in the case that he believed it is good news for Saudi Arabia as the kingdom has been waiting for prosecution in the case for almost 20 years.
He said there are two more cases for which the Saudi government is awaiting developments, including both the murder of the four diplomats and the diamond scandal that has soured Thailand-Saudi Arabia relations for decades.
He believed this is the first step for restored ties between the two kingdoms, particularly labour cooperation. (TNA)
The indictment took place exactly one month before its statute of limitations on the case ends on February 12.
Mr al-Ruwaili has been presumed dead since he went missing in February 1990.
OAG Special Cases Division director-general Thanapit Moonlapruek said the panel considering the case agreed that evidence gathered by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) was sufficient to try the case and decided to prosecute Gen Somkid and four other officers for the murder of Mr al-Ruwaili.
All five were present at the OAG and were transferred to the criminal court for further legal procedures. Their lawyers are in the process of seeking bail.
The first hearing has been set for March 29.
Gen Somkid is the prime suspect in the premeditated murder of Mr al-Ruwaili, who is believed to hold vital information on the killings 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 Saudi 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.
The Saudi authorities also want to see developments in the case before its statute of limitations ends on February 12.
Charge d'Affaires Babil Ashri told TNA after learning the latest developments in the case that he believed it is good news for Saudi Arabia as the kingdom has been waiting for prosecution in the case for almost 20 years.
He said there are two more cases for which the Saudi government is awaiting developments, including both the murder of the four diplomats and the diamond scandal that has soured Thailand-Saudi Arabia relations for decades.
He believed this is the first step for restored ties between the two kingdoms, particularly labour cooperation. (TNA)
