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Throughout the two decades, Somkid, now commander of Region 5 police, has served in several significant positions after public prosecutors decided in 1994 not to indict him on allegations that he was behind al-Ruwaili's disappearance. As a result, he was reinstated in his police career and progressed through promotions to higher ranks, attaining the rank of police lieutenant-general.

The investigation into the mysterious fate of al-Ruwaili has been on and off all along. The statute of limitations in the case was due to expire on February 12, the same day when al-Ruwaili went missing 20 years ago. After the decision not to indict in 1994, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra ordered the case reopened in 2001 but once again, little progress was made since then.

The latest attempt to probe the case was made in 2004 when the Department of Special Investigation took over the case on May 28 - a five-year process that led to the eventual indictment of Somkid and the four others - for their alleged role in the abduction and murder of al-Ruwaili.

One year after his reinstatement, Somkid served as the chief of Prawet police. He led a famous investigation into the claim of a hero-turned-villain: taxidriver Somphong Luedthaharn's story that he had returned a huge amount of money left in his car to its foreign owner was proved to be a hoax.

After the military coup on September 19, 2005, Somkid had a stable career reportedly due to the influence of his brother, Army General Somjate Boonthanom, one of the many coup plotters. He was appointed last year to his current position, whose jurisdiction covers the upper North - a stronghold of the red-shirted anti-coup people.

Despite frequent protests by local residents against his appointment in the northern provinces, and subsequent demands to remove him, Somkid has remained in this position, reportedly due to strong backing from Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who had opposed many proposed transfers in the annual reshuffles.

Armed with the knowledge that he enjoys the support of the Democrat-led government, Somkid filed a complaint on Monday against DSI chief Thawee Sodsong accusing him of malfeasance.

Despite flip-flops by witnesses, the DSI made the case against Somkid, which led to the indictment by public prosecutors yesterday.