Saudi Arabi lashed out at Thailand on Monday for promoting a senior police officer charged in the two-decades-old murder of a Saudi businessman, saying it had been patient enough but now wants a series of "terrorising and horrible crimes" solved.
Saudi Arabia has long suspected official involvement in the 1990 disappearance of businessman Mohammad al-Ruwaili and the murders of four members of Saudi Arabia's diplomatic staff in Bangkok.
It has suggested that the slayings were linked to another crime: the theft of $US2 million ($A2.2 million) worth of royal jewels from a palace in Riyadh, many of which were never recovered.
Saudi Arabia downgraded relations with Thailand following the crimes and ties have never fully recovered.
Now, to the dismay of Saudi Arabia, Thailand has promoted Lt Gen Somkid Boonthanom to new assistant national police chief.
Somkid, along with four other policemen, was charged in January with premeditated murder and illegal detention in al-Ruwaili's disappearance, a month before the statute of limitations on the case would have expired.
In an initial statement on Friday, the Saudi embassy in Bangkok voiced its "astonishment" at Somkid's promotion, which it noted could seriously jeopardise efforts to restore normal relations between the nations.
Monday's statement had a tougher tone in response to Thai media reports over the weekend and comments by Thai officials who defended the appointment.
"For more than 20 years since the occurrence of these shocking, terrorising and horrible crimes and incidents, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its part has shown understanding, patience and extended all means of cooperation to aid the relevant Thai authorities in their investigations to uncover these crimes," the embassy's statement said.
In 1989, $US2 million worth of gems and jewellery were stolen from a Saudi Arabian prince's palace in Riyadh. A Thai worker at the palace was subsequently arrested and jailed for the theft after returning to Thailand.
A portion of the gems were recovered and returned by Thai police. But some turned out to be fake, leading to suspicions that senior police and members of Thailand's power elite kept the loot and ordered a cover-up.
The Saudi Embassy says it understood the case would go to Bangkok Criminal Court on November 25 and questioned if Somkid's promotion not only violated Thai law but would hinder chances of justice being served.
The embassy "urges and anticipates witnessing transparency, justice and noninterference" in the case, Monday's statement said.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday defended Somkid's promotion as legal and said his deputy and the foreign Ministry have been assigned to explain it to Saudi representatives.
He insisted that Somkid's new role as assistant police chief would not affect the case against him.
"Nothing will impact the court case, and it will continue," Abhisit told reporters. "We believe the judicial system will provide us with an answer."
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