Kingdom demands justice in Thai cases
Published: Sep 7, 2010 00:41 Updated: Sep 7, 2010 00:41
BANGKOK: Saudi Arabia lashed out at Thailand on Monday for promoting a senior police officer charged in the two-decade-old murder of a Saudi businessman, saying it had been patient enough but now wants a series of “terrorizing and horrible crimes” solved.
The Kingdom has long suspected official involvement in the 1990 disappearance of businessman Mohammad Al-Ruwaili and the murders of four members of Saudi Arabia's diplomatic staff in Bangkok. It has suggested that the slayings were linked to another crime: the theft of $2 million worth of royal jewels from a palace in Riyadh, many of which were never recovered.
The Kingdom downgraded relations with Thailand following the crimes and ties have never fully recovered.
Thailand recently promoted Lt. Gen. Somkid Boonthanom to be a new assistant national police chief. Somkid, along with four other policemen, was charged in January with premeditated murder and illegal detention in Al-Ruwaili's disappearance, a month before the statute of limitations on the case would have expired.
In an initial statement Friday, the Saudi Embassy in Bangkok voiced its astonishment at Somkid's promotion, which it noted could seriously jeopardize efforts to restore normal relations between the nations.
Monday's statement had a tougher tone in response to Thai media reports over the weekend and comments by Thai officials who defended the appointment.
“For more than 20 years since the occurrence of these shocking, terrorizing and horrible crimes and incidents, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its part has shown understanding, patience and extended all means of cooperation to aid the relevant Thai authorities in their investigations to uncover these crimes,” the embassy's statement said.
In 1989, $2 million worth of gems and jewelry were stolen from a prince's palace in Riyadh. A Thai worker at the palace was subsequently arrested and jailed for the theft after returning to Thailand. A portion of the gems were recovered and returned by Thai police. But some turned out to be fake, leading to suspicions that senior police and members of Thailand's power elite kept the loot and ordered a cover-up.
The Saudi Embassy says it understood the case would go to Bangkok Criminal Court on Nov. 25 and questioned if Somkid's promotion not only violated Thai law but would hinder chances of justice being served.
The embassy “urges and anticipates witnessing transparency, justice and noninterference” in the case, Monday's statement said.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday defended Somkid's promotion as legal and said his deputy and the Foreign Ministry have been assigned to explain it to Saudi representatives. He insisted that Somkid's new role as assistant police chief would not affect the case against him.

Comments
ZYA
Sep 7, 2010 01:51
Report abuseGANDALF
Sep 7, 2010 20:17
Report abuseKHALID
Sep 7, 2010 20:19
Report abuseWhat you are saying is just statement with prejudice. There is a legal system in Saudi Arabia and Law enforcement agencies that ensures Justice to everyone let it be foreigners against Saudis in your case .The only issue is Arabic Language .Itâ™s not responsibility of Saudi Arabian government to provide laws in other languages and to facilitate others in their own language .Will you expect US or china to define their laws and judicial system in languages foreign to them , the answer is obviously is no in most cases .If they do so itâ™s their generosity .People come to Saudi Arabia and donâ™t learn Arabic and expect the luxury of Saudi authorities to communicate with them in their own language .Itâ™s not possible .Do they have same attitude while they stay in US for 10 years and donâ™t learn English ,do they go to France and stay there for 20 years without learning French .The answer is no. I lived this country for 25 years as a Canadian and this is my conclusion after long observation .The Saudi Judicial System is based on Quran and Sunnah and is defined in Arabic language medium, and every citizen or resident or even illegal resident have complete rights based on Islamic values .Obviously sometimes you will find people misusing it and for that you need to communicate with proper authorities to bring them to justice.
And you can go to governor office, and to even King if you find injustice done to you by system .Can you find same in any other country that you can complaint to head of the sate directly for any injustice.
May Allah bless and protect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Keep them up with same Guidance.
JASEM
Sep 7, 2010 20:20
Report abuseABU AHMEDD
Sep 7, 2010 20:23
Report abuse