The Civil Court of Southern Bangkok hearing yesterday rejected a request for a missing-person order relating to the 19-year disappearance of a Saudi Arabian businessman, on grounds of insufficient evidence.
The request, lodged by public prosecutors on behalf of Mohammad al Ruwaili's wife, did not reinforce her account that he went missing on February 12, 1990, after driving away from their home, said the presiding judges. Testimony from Department of Special Investigation (DSI) agents, who took over the missing-person case from police, was not valid because they did not witness his disappearance on the day, the judges said.
The public prosecutors also had not provided documents proving Ruwaili ever left Thailand. "There has not been other evidence proving he has disappeared under legal conditions. Therefore the court revokes the request," the verdict said.
Al Ruwaili's wife and relatives need a court order confirming him as a missing person to gain management of his assets, both in Thailand and in his home country. He left no will.
DSI director-general Tharit Phengdit said he would consult with Justice Ministry executives to decide later whether the DSI would appeal yesterday's verdict. He said this civil procedure would not affect DSI's ongoing investigation into murders relating to the Saudi jewellery scandal.
He said the DSI would continue procedures requiring Pol Lt General Somkhid Bunthanom and four other people implicated in the murders to acknowledge charges against them.
Case prosecutor Wirat Suwatthanachao said without scientific evidence or eyewitness accounts, the DSI needed to interview relatives of al Ruwaili or other people with knowledge of his disappearance, before writing a new conclusion report confirming he was missing.
Saudi Arabian authorities had requested the cases be resolved before a 20 year statute of limitations expires next year, he said.