Key Witness To Give Testimony In Missing Saudi Case: Bangkok

[webfact]

THAI-SAUDI TIES

Key witness to give testimony in missing Saudi case

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The court case over the 1989 disappearance of Saudi Arabia businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili took a new turn yesterday as the Criminal Court granted public prosecutors permission to seek the testimony of a key witness based outside Thailand.

Public prosecutors said United Arab of Emirates-based Kiattikorn Kaewphalue (known formerly as Pol Lt-Colonel Suwitchai Kaewphalue) possesses knowledge about a gold ring worn by al-Ruwaili, which led to the reopening of the case and the current trial involving five policemen suspected of having been behind the disappearance of al-Ruwaili.

newsjs

Pol Lt-General Somkhid Bunthanom, standing trial in connection with al-Ruwaili's disappearance, accused public prosecutors, police investigators and Department of Special Investigation agents of taking Kiattikorn out of the country illegally, after immigration officers detected his plan for blacklisted overseas travel.

The court finally permitted the testimony, saying that it would not put the five defendants, including Somkhid, at a disadvantage.

Somkhid said those he accuses later altered Kiattikorn's travel plans and paid Bt115,600 in air tickets for his new flights. The retired officer also alleged that Kiattikorn, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2009, had earlier been hidden in Thailand but police made no efforts to locate him.

Somkhid threatened to take criminal action against the individuals representing the three accused agencies.

Chief prosecutor Kowit Sriphairoj said Kiattikorn had earlier been excluded as a state witness because of his seeming disappearance, but a request for his testimony was made to the court following a special request by Saudi Arabia authorities. Kowit dismissed as untrue Somkhid's allegation about public prosecutors helping to hide Kiattichai and take him out of the country.

-- The Nation 2013-02-05

[FarangTalk]

This 25 year old case just won't go away.

The 'Blue Diamond Affair' is a lingering stain on Thailand's international reputation. It should be publicised to each and every person visiting or doing business with Thais, and especially people involved with the Thai Police.

It's no wonder the Nation does not elaborate or even give mention to the original case, referring to just a 'missing Saudi'.

[Baerboxer]

This case is a very well known to Saudis. When I mention my family lives in Thailand many Saudi and Qatari people I meet ask if I've heard of this case.

[FarangTalk]

This case is a very well known to Saudis. When I mention my family lives in Thailand many Saudi and Qatari people I meet ask if I've heard of this case.

It would be well known to the Thais if the roles were reversed and a Saudi had stolen $90m worth of jewelry from the Thai Royal family.

Saudis are still prohibited by law to travel to Thailand without permission and the two countries still do not have full diplomatic relations.

This story has it all; Saudi diplomats being gunned down in Bangkok, kidnappings, Thai Police criminality and corruption at the highest level, faking gems and jewelry then returning it to the Saudis in place of the real merchandise, jewelers, fences, informants and their families being murdered (allegedly by the Thai Police), videos of influential Thais at functions wearing the missing jewelry, lies and procrastination from the Thai government and justice system at every turn, the list is endless.

[Colabamumbai]

Does anyone have a link to the original story? I have heard very little in over 3 years here.

[klauskunkel]

Now, what if there was a Saturday Night Life spoof about this incident?...

[Ian Curtis]

Does anyone have a link to the original story? I have heard very little in over 3 years here.

Yea - contact the Thai Police headquarters, they will fill you in with the truthful facts of the case

[waza]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Diamond_Affair

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1969920,00.html

http://asiancorrespondent.com/50038/wikileaks-cable-the-curse-of-the-blue-diamond/

[GentlemanJim]

$90 Mill worth of jewels and 25 years of loss of trade/co-operation with Saudi.....Go figure who has lost out big time! It's a no brainer!

[OzMick]

UAE, which includes Dubai, seems to be a haven for fugitive Thai criminals. No extradition treaty?

[kurnell]

Who was that hiso <deleted> that was seen with the jewelry around her neck at a party after the robbery?

[Arkady]

Yet another criminal hiding in plain sight with the connivance of the authorities. Since this case and the Saudi jewellery case are connected there are very influential people involved, particularly in the jewellery case, they don't want this guy back in Thailand to spill any beans.

Perhaps the Saudis will extradite him though. They have some rather sharp methods for dealing with people who upset them and their justice system is even more warped than Thailand's.

[Arkady]

Who was that hiso <deleted> that was seen with the jewelry around her neck at a party after the robbery?

Chavalit's wife, nicknamed "The Walking Jewellery Box" by the press, was one of those who were alleged to have worn some of it. Better not to ask about the others. The standard defence at the time was that some of the items were so adorable that an enterprising jeweler had made many replicas and sold them to hi-so ladies.... ahem.

[LomSak27]

Ozmick and Arkady posted

Perhaps the Saudis will extradite him though. They have some rather sharp methods for dealing with people who upset them and their justice system is even more warped than Thailand's.

UAE, which includes Dubai, seems to be a haven for fugitive Thai criminals. No extradition treaty?

uh, did you two read the article ? The criminals whjo are in Thailand want to exclude testomony from a thai in UAE - WHO IF was in Thailand he would soon not be among the living.

For whatever reason people on TV seem to assume thailand has typical extradition treaties with other countries - They do not, nor have they ever!

[katana]

Chavalit's wife, nicknamed "The Walking Jewellery Box" by the press, was one of those who were alleged to have worn some of it. Better not to ask about the others. The standard defence at the time was that some of the items were so adorable that an enterprising jeweler had made many replicas and sold them to hi-so ladies.... ahem.

Not sure if it's the wife in question, but apparently Chavalit's 2nd and present wife, Pankreu Yongchaiyudh, was quite a looker in her younger years, winning several beauty contest prizes eg Miss Teen in 1954.

http://th.wikipedia....mdash;ธ

[DiNiro]

Who was that hiso <deleted> that was seen with the jewelry around her neck at a party after the robbery?

Ask any taxi driver where that blue diamond is.

[Fozfromoz]

Chavalit's wife, nicknamed "The Walking Jewellery Box" by the press, was one of those who were alleged to have worn some of it. Better not to ask about the others. The standard defence at the time was that some of the items were so adorable that an enterprising jeweler had made many replicas and sold them to hi-so ladies.... ahem.

Not sure if it's the wife in question, but apparently Chavalit's 2nd and present wife, Pankreu Yongchaiyudh, was quite a looker in her younger years, winning several beauty contest prizes eg Miss Teen in 1954.

http://th.wikipedia....mdash;ธ

Looks like she's gone off the boil a bit since then.

[kurnell]

Chavalit's wife, nicknamed "The Walking Jewellery Box" by the press, was one of those who were alleged to have worn some of it. Better not to ask about the others. The standard defence at the time was that some of the items were so adorable that an enterprising jeweler had made many replicas and sold them to hi-so ladies.... ahem.

Not sure if it's the wife in question, but apparently Chavalit's 2nd and present wife, Pankreu Yongchaiyudh, was quite a looker in her younger years, winning several beauty contest prizes eg Miss Teen in 1954.

http://th.wikipedia....mdash;ธ

Looks like she's gone off the boil a bit since then.

Crikey, I am no oil painting but you could press this couple's face into dough to make gorilla biscuits