Bangkok court clears 5 in case of missing Saudi

DPA

Bangkok

Five Thai police officers saw their charges of kidnapping and murder dismissed in Bangkok yesterday in the case of the disappearance of a Saudi businessman 24 years ago.

The Bangkok Criminal Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove their guilt in the abduction of Saudi businessman Mohamed al-Ruwaili, who went missing in Bangkok on February 12, 1990, and is presumed killed.

Saudi diplomats and al-Ruwaili’s relatives, who had flown to Bangkok to hear the verdict, expressed disappointment and vowed to appeal.

“The murder happened 24 years ago but until today we still have no answers, so I think we will continue,” said Fahad Aldosari, head of the Standing Committee on Pending Saudi Cases at the ministry of foreign affairs.

“As Saudis, these are our sons, our brothers, our people so we are going to look after these cases even if it takes another 24 years.”

Al-Ruwaili was one of five Saudis, including four diplomats, murdered in Bangkok in 1989 and 1990. None of the murders have been solved.

Their cases are believed to be connected with the notorious theft of millions of dollars’ worth of jewellery from a Saudi prince by his Thai gardener, who allegedly mailed the gems home to Thailand.

Most of the pieces, including a large blue diamond, were never recovered.

Saudi officials asked that al-Ruwaili case be reopened after Thai Police Lieutenant Colonel Suvichai Kaewpluek testified at the Saudi embassy in Dubai that he had ordered the five defendants to kidnap the Saudi businessman at a Bangkok hotel before he disappeared.

But the Bangkok Criminal Court refused to accept Suvichai’s testimony as new evidence in the case, said A M Alsheaiby, Saudi charge d’affaires in Thailand.

The court’s judge was also changed, prompting complaints from the missing man’s family.

“This is not a traffic violation, which you can transfer from one judge to another,” his brother Ateeq al-Ruwaili said. “This is a murder case, so the judge shouldn’t have been transferred in a couple of days. That’s what makes us suspicious.”

Saudi Arabia has downgraded its diplomatic relations with Thailand over the cases. It withdrew its ambassador several years ago and bars Thai nationals from work visas, while blocking Saudis from visiting Thailand as tourists.

As to what further diplomatic sanctions might be applied after the latest ruling, “it is up to Riyadh”, Alsheaiby said.