Thai attorney general urged to appeal in Saudi businessman murder case

BANGKOK, April 30 (TNA) - Muslim bodies have urged Thailand's attorney general to appeal in the murder case of a Saudi Arabian businessman, Mohammad al-Ruwaili. Aziz Pitakkumpol, Islamic spiritual leader in Thailand, and chairpersons of Islamic committees of 39 provinces made the call at their joint press conference held in Bangkok on Wednesday. The Thai Islamic leaders acknowledged that the Central Islamic Council of Thailand is aware of impacts of the Thai Criminal Court's recent acquittal ruling in the murder case; so they had to publicize their stance. Central Islamic Councilor Assistant Professor Suchart Sethamalinee read the joint statement, saying that the Central Islamic Council of Thailand and provincial Islamic committees nationwide deeply regretted and sympathized with the disappearance of the Saudi Arabian businessman on February 12, 1990, or 24 years ago. The statement also pointed out that the Thai court's ruling has raised doubts in the society and a judge was replaced days before the ruling. Therefore, Islamic authorities in Thailand would like to urge the Office of the Attorney General to file an appeal to guarantee justice. The Islamic authorities also noted that a doubtful justice system will have great impacts on relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, the Arab League and the 57-member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the incumbent secretary-general of which is a Saudi Arabian, cautioning that the issue could affect the Thai economy in relation to its exports of halal food to Islamic economies, as Thailand now has the 5th largest market share of the halal food products on the world market. Their statement also indicated that there have been many cases of abductions and murders in Thailand, like the case of the Saudi Arabian businessman, calling for violence and injustice to be addressed immediately. (TNA)