PATTANI, April 17 – The Islamic Federation of 15 Southern Provinces has issued a statement advocating an appeal in the recent court case in which five police officers were acquitted in connection with the murder of a Saudi Arabia businessman.
The federation unanimously agreed to appeal the case after the Thai Criminal Court dropped charges against Pol Lt Gen Somkid Boonthanom and four police officers on March 31.
They were implicated in the murder of Saudi businessman Mr Mohammad al-Ruwaili in 1990 but the Criminal Court ruled that the witnesses’ testimonies against the suspects were too weak.
The Islamic Federation said the case was related to the principle of Islamic religion and the relationship between Thailand and the global Islamic community, and it could jeopardise the ongoing attempt to solve problems in Thailand’s far South.
The federation said Thai and overseas judiciaries should be involved in considering the case while highly-respected Islamic agencies have offered assistance and advice to ensure justice in the case.
The federation said its statement would be distributed to the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Thailand, the Sheikhul Islam Office in Thailand, the Islamic Committee in every province and schools throughout the country.
