People in the Kingdom expressed shock and dismay on Monday at a Thai criminal court's dismissal of a case against five men, including a senior police officer, charged with murdering a Saudi businessman over precious stones worth millions of dollars stolen more than two decades ago.

Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to try the five men, who were accused of kidnapping and killing Muhammad Al-Ruwaili.

Al-Ruwaili had gone to Bangkok to investigate what became known as the “Blue Diamond Affair,” a series of events triggered by the 1989 theft of gems belonging to Saudi Arabia by a Thai employee.

A Shoura Council member, who wished to remain anonymous, told Arab News that he was greatly dismayed at this verdict, which displayed the triviality of the Thai judicial procedure.

Mohammed Al-Humeidi, a journalist at a prestigious Arabic daily, said that the verdict comes as a shock to the entire Saudi community.

“We have lost both valuables in the form of human life and resources and the killers just got off scot-free,” he said.

Confirming the verdict, Wijak Chittarat, charge d’affaires at the Thai Embassy in Riyadh, told Arab News that the government cannot be held responsible for this verdict since the case is solely handled by the judiciary.