ID :
99688
Tue, 01/12/2010 - 20:20
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http://m.oananews.org//node/99688
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Saudi praises Thailand for progress in missing businessman's case
BANGKOK, Jan 12 (TNA) - Saudi Charge d'Affaires to Thailand Babil Ashri praised the Thai goverment and the investigative team for their work after Thailand's Office of the Attorney General (OAG) indicted five police and an ex-officer who were in connection with the disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili in 1990.
He said the development was considered good news for Saudi Arabia as the kingdom has been waiting for prosecution in the case for almost 20 years.
The Saudi diplomat said Saudi Arabia had valued the relationships between Thailand and Saudi Arabia and would like to expand the tied in the future especially when the case is ended.
The Saudi envoy said he believed this is the first step to restoring ties between the two kingdoms, including cooperation in providing employment for Thais in Saudi.
He said that after progress was seen in this case, he hoped to see progress from the two remaining outstanding cases -- the murder of the four diplomats and the diamond scandal that has soured Thailand-Saudi Arabia relations for more than a decade.
The five suspects named by the Attorney General were Provincial Police Region 5 Commander Pol Lt- Gen Somkid Boonthanom, chief of Provincial Police Region 5; Pol Col Soraluk Joosanit, Ubon Ratchathani's Nam Khun district Police Chief; Pol Col Prapas Piyamongkol, Pol Lt-Col Suradej Udomdee, and retired officer Police Sergeant Prasong Thorung.
The indictment was issued exactly one month before its statute of limitations expires 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 for trial and opted to prosecute them for the murder of the missing Mr al-Ruwaili.
The criminal court later granted bail for suspects at Bt500,000 each and the first hearing was set for March 29.
Gen Somkid is the prime suspect in the premeditated murder of Mr al-Ruwaili, who is believed to have held 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 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. (TNA)
He said the development was considered good news for Saudi Arabia as the kingdom has been waiting for prosecution in the case for almost 20 years.
The Saudi diplomat said Saudi Arabia had valued the relationships between Thailand and Saudi Arabia and would like to expand the tied in the future especially when the case is ended.
The Saudi envoy said he believed this is the first step to restoring ties between the two kingdoms, including cooperation in providing employment for Thais in Saudi.
He said that after progress was seen in this case, he hoped to see progress from the two remaining outstanding cases -- the murder of the four diplomats and the diamond scandal that has soured Thailand-Saudi Arabia relations for more than a decade.
The five suspects named by the Attorney General were Provincial Police Region 5 Commander Pol Lt- Gen Somkid Boonthanom, chief of Provincial Police Region 5; Pol Col Soraluk Joosanit, Ubon Ratchathani's Nam Khun district Police Chief; Pol Col Prapas Piyamongkol, Pol Lt-Col Suradej Udomdee, and retired officer Police Sergeant Prasong Thorung.
The indictment was issued exactly one month before its statute of limitations expires 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 for trial and opted to prosecute them for the murder of the missing Mr al-Ruwaili.
The criminal court later granted bail for suspects at Bt500,000 each and the first hearing was set for March 29.
Gen Somkid is the prime suspect in the premeditated murder of Mr al-Ruwaili, who is believed to have held 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 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. (TNA)
