Australian ‘red notice’ led to arrest of Bahrain footballer: Don

By The Nation

 

File photo : Bahraini soccer player with Australian refugee status Hakeem Al-Araibi (C) walks while escorted by Thai prison officers following an extradition hearing at the Criminal Court in Bangkok, Thailand, 04 February 2019. EPA-EFE

 

IT WAS Australia’s issuance of an Interpol red notice for former Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi that led to his arrest in Thailand, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai revealed yesterday.
 

Bahrain, which issued an arrest warrant after finding him guilty of criminal charges in 2014, learnt about his overseas trip and requested Thailand to detain him, Don said.

 

Al-Araibi was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport on November 27 after a honeymoon trip with his wife while reportedly en route to Australia, where he was granted residency about four years ago.

 

A Thai Criminal Court recently agreed to consider Bahrain’s request to extradite him to face jail term.

 

Since the arrest of al-Araibi hit global headlines, Australia has been at the forefront of the demand for his immediate release, arguing that he was a refugee with Australian residency and therefore should not be arrested and face an extradition trial.

 

“The Interpol’s red notice issued by Canberra on al-Araibi reached the Thai side before he arrived here. Interpol was very quick and we arrested him at the request of Bahrain,” Don told reporters.

 

Thailand now finds itself caught in the middle of this conflict. A solution would be for Australia and Bahrain to sit down and talk, he said.

 

“Thailand is willing to help facilitate the talks if both sides agree to settle the matter through negotiations. One way out would be to send him to a third country,” Don said.

 

A Foreign Ministry press release on December 8 revealed that despite the subsequent withdrawal of the red notice on al-Araibi from the Interpol database, the extradition process had already been activated following the receipt of a formal request from the Bahraini government.

 

Meanwhile, Chatchom Akapin, chief of International Affairs Department at the Office of the Attorney-General, said his office would base its decision entirely on the concerned laws.

 

Chatchom said his office had reviewed the defendant’s alleged offences, including arson, and found that they were not political or race-related and Thailand had similar crimes. “Therefore, the Bahraini request is in line with the extradition legislation,” he said.

 

Asked about the defendant’s refugee status, Chatchom said that was a matter for Canberra, saying the Thai side would consider only whether the Bahraini request was in line with the extradition laws.

 

Meanwhile, Corrections Depart-ment chief Narat Sawettanun yesterday insisted his department was permitted by law to use shackles on al-Araibi. His department chose to shackle his legs when transporting him from detention to his extradition trial on Monday after his case caught the attention of media and the general public.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30363593

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-06

Australia is the nation that had him arrested.

Sources:- Sydney Morning Herald

The Guardian Australian Edition

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Since the arrest of al-Araibi hit global headlines, Australia has been at the forefront of the demand for his immediate release, arguing that he was a refugee with Australian residency and therefore should not be arrested and face an extradition trial.

totally at odds with what the foreign minister here says; i pray we survive that FM, he contributes to the mess of thailand's international image

Want to solve this problem, send him to Australia. Easy 

10 minutes ago, Oziex1 said:

Want to solve this problem, send him to Australia. Easy 

No. Not easy. His crimes of arson and vandalism were committed in Bahrain. That is where he should be returned to. The fact the Australia gave the nod to have him arrested attests to the credibility and seriousness of his despicable crimes. And also gives credence to the legal trial that convicted him. Send him back to Bahrain, let him serve his sentence, then he can go on holiday to Australia or for work whatever(as a free man).

 The notion that criminals can run abroad to soft touch countries (Canada and Oz) and seek asylum from their criminal sentences is a disgrace. That this guy flaunted his run and hide game made it even worse.

This issue seems much bugger in Thai media than it really is. In Europe, nobody heard about it, even in SG people hardly bother. I also think most Thais don't care as long as he leaves.

How do some red notices work and some don't, i.e. every one Thailand appears to issue seams to disappear never to be seen again???? 

20 minutes ago, khunJeroen said:

his issue seems much bugger

yes no doubt, that is prison life I'm afraid ????

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

No. Not easy. His crimes of arson and vandalism were committed in Bahrain. That is where he should be returned to. The fact the Australia gave the nod to have him arrested attests to the credibility and seriousness of his despicable crimes. And also gives credence to the legal trial that convicted him. Send him back to Bahrain, let him serve his sentence, then he can go on holiday to Australia or for work whatever(as a free man).

 The notion that criminals can run abroad to soft touch countries (Canada and Oz) and seek asylum from their criminal sentences is a disgrace. That this guy flaunted his run and hide game made it even worse.

Criminals? Has he been convicted? 

1 hour ago, MalandLee said:

Australia is the nation that had him arrested.

Sources:- Sydney Morning Herald

The Guardian Australian Edition

Yeah funny hey cos now they are threatening Thailand with economic sanctions if they dont send him back to Oz. Talk about hypocrites. But that's our government for you.

4 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

Criminals? Has he been convicted? 

"Al-Araibi was convicted and sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for “terrorism-related offences, including an attack on a police station”

 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/05/hakeem-al-araibi-case-bahrain-is-emboldened-to-take-human-rights-abuse-beyond-its-borders

19 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

yes no doubt, that is prison life I'm afraid ????

Stay classy, fella. 

W a FMess

4 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

"Al-Araibi was convicted and sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for “terrorism-related offences, including an attack on a police station”

 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/05/hakeem-al-araibi-case-bahrain-is-emboldened-to-take-human-rights-abuse-beyond-its-borders

Right, convicted by a Bahraini court who were told just minutes before that he was actually playing football in a ‘televised’ match at the time the crime took place. 

Edited February 6, 20197 yr by rkidlad

7 minutes ago, mickymouse1 said:

W a FMess

Crazy that someone in Oz seems to have jumped the gun, issued, and the withdrew the red notice, and are now looking for a way out to blame everyone but themselves.

 

What Thailand is saying about it not being an easy fix as they have begun the extradition procedure is true as it is not a simple case of just disregarding the paperwork. The system is setup so that this can't happen.

 

'Tis a mess to be sure.

I fear this will not end well for Hakeem. The Thai and Bahraini political and justice systems have so much in common. I suspect Thailand will decide this in favour of whoever is more closely aligned to their own values. 

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

No. Not easy. His crimes of arson and vandalism were committed in Bahrain. That is where he should be returned to. The fact the Australia gave the nod to have him arrested attests to the credibility and seriousness of his despicable crimes. And also gives credence to the legal trial that convicted him. Send him back to Bahrain, let him serve his sentence, then he can go on holiday to Australia or for work whatever(as a free man).

 The notion that criminals can run abroad to soft touch countries (Canada and Oz) and seek asylum from their criminal sentences is a disgrace. That this guy flaunted his run and hide game made it even worse.

I would put you on level 1 on the stages of moral development... 

Also, try researching the actual case against him, it would help

Well, that changes everything.

 

Seems Thailand are actually the competent and diligent Interpol after all....well at least at catching red notices...

 

...issuing them...not so much.

27 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

Right, convicted by a Bahraini court who were told just minutes before that he was actually playing football in a ‘televised’ match at the time the crime took place. 

Seems he is caught up in a wich hunt as his brother is an activist. 

1 hour ago, car720 said:

Funny how we will take any sort of sportsman yet a normal person (low profile) would have buckley's chance.

Did you not know that footballers ( for some weird reason) are worshipped as Gods by millions . You are correct - now it would seem that Australia did request his arrest . 

Never understood that a refugee with a conviction in his own country, ever would want to leave the country that offered him an approved asylum status. Should have made a nice holiday in Australia, that country is large enough with plenty of beautiful places.

 

He has only to blame himself and only himself for being so naive in going on holiday in the dangerous world; and secondly it did not help him that Australia woke up the Interpol apparatus to get him arrested.

Australian and Thai plunder this story is just unbelievable!

 

Why would Australia issue a red notice if they knew all the time where he was in their country holding refugee status.

He travelled on regular scheduled flights and if the red notice arrived here before he arrived in Thailand how did he pass Australian immigration leaving - and how did he pass through immigration entering Thailand ?

And then spent his honeymoon here presumably in a hotel which registers him with immigration yes?

 

So they knew where he was and did nothing?

 

Either they are all absolutely useless in their jobs or there is something more sinister going on!?

 

 

 

 

 

If this guy was not a valued soccar star, he would be in jail already. It is another case of

inequality. Most farangs would just get their sentences and be locked up. I find this news story tiring.

Geezer

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

No. Not easy. His crimes of arson and vandalism were committed in Bahrain. That is where he should be returned to. The fact the Australia gave the nod to have him arrested attests to the credibility and seriousness of his despicable crimes. And also gives credence to the legal trial that convicted him. Send him back to Bahrain, let him serve his sentence, then he can go on holiday to Australia or for work whatever(as a free man).

 The notion that criminals can run abroad to soft touch countries (Canada and Oz) and seek asylum from their criminal sentences is a disgrace. That this guy flaunted his run and hide game made it even worse.

1. he is an Australian resident, granted refugee status

2. think he will get or had a fair trial in Bahrain?

3. he claims he was playing in a televised match when the vandalism he is accused of occurred. should be easy enough to check.

4. there are claims the actual reason behind his arrest was that he was critical of a member of a Bahraini sheikh who had wanted to take leadership of FIFA but failed. Bahrain being a Sunni monarchy in a Shia majority country.....

This headline and story is total BS!!

It's disappointing, but not surprising, that so many on this forum believe the headline without reading the full links.

 

Interpol issues the red notices at the behest of the complainant country,  in this case Bahrain, NOT Australia!  (They shouldn't be issued against a refugee from the country seeking the notice anyway).

These notices come to the attention of border security when the subject passes through airport screening.  Australia's border police advised local Interpol of the movement as per protocol.

Interpol advised Thailand, but they probably would have picked it up on entry anyway. Interpol subsequently withdrew the notice and at that stage Thailand should have released the subject, but once Thailand gets their teeth into a case like this they invariably escalate the matter in their unique bumbling manner. The shackles are a prime example.

 

 

Edited February 6, 20197 yr by Old Croc

2 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

No. Not easy. His crimes of arson and vandalism were committed in Bahrain. That is where he should be returned to. The fact the Australia gave the nod to have him arrested attests to the credibility and seriousness of his despicable crimes. And also gives credence to the legal trial that convicted him. Send him back to Bahrain, let him serve his sentence, then he can go on holiday to Australia or for work whatever(as a free man).

 The notion that criminals can run abroad to soft touch countries (Canada and Oz) and seek asylum from their criminal sentences is a disgrace. That this guy flaunted his run and hide game made it even worse.

He was playing in a football match on live tv when the alleged offence he is charged with occurred. 

2 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

No. Not easy. His crimes of arson and vandalism were committed in Bahrain. That is where he should be returned to. The fact the Australia gave the nod to have him arrested attests to the credibility and seriousness of his despicable crimes. And also gives credence to the legal trial that convicted him. Send him back to Bahrain, let him serve his sentence, then he can go on holiday to Australia or for work whatever(as a free man).

 The notion that criminals can run abroad to soft touch countries (Canada and Oz) and seek asylum from their criminal sentences is a disgrace. That this guy flaunted his run and hide game made it even worse.

 

58 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

"Al-Araibi was convicted and sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison for “terrorism-related offences, including an attack on a police station”

 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/05/hakeem-al-araibi-case-bahrain-is-emboldened-to-take-human-rights-abuse-beyond-its-borders

This is from the guy who believes Trump is an honest, good guy.

And believes a court in Bahrain as an honest judicial institution.

Tells ya everything about his opinion, and moral compass.

 

10 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

He was playing in a football match on live tv when the alleged offence he is charged with occurred. 

How very convenient.

Just now, TopDeadSenter said:

How very convenient.

The truth often is. 

2 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

No. Not easy. His crimes of arson and vandalism were committed in Bahrain. That is where he should be returned to. The fact the Australia gave the nod to have him arrested attests to the credibility and seriousness of his despicable crimes. And also gives credence to the legal trial that convicted him. Send him back to Bahrain, let him serve his sentence, then he can go on holiday to Australia or for work whatever(as a free man).

 The notion that criminals can run abroad to soft touch countries (Canada and Oz) and seek asylum from their criminal sentences is a disgrace. That this guy flaunted his run and hide game made it even worse.

Well, I'm not sure what's going on here. I read this morning that Australian spokesman said that Bahrain knew that the soccer player was already living in Australia when the sentence was issued in 2014 but Bahrain did not contact Australia at all. Also the red notice was withdrawn because it shouldn't have been issued in the first place. Australia claim that Bahrain waited until he left for Thailand then applied for extradition.