Decision On Rakesh Saxena Extradition Next Week

[george]

Decision on Saxena extradition next week

Rakesh Saxena

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's long struggle to bring back fugitive bank fraud suspect Rakesh Saxena from Canada will likely reach a conclusion next week.

"As for details of our coordination with Canada's high public prosecution office, it's likely that Saxena will be extradited to Thailand. However, I would not like to comment further on a pending court decision [in Canada]. In the next week, there will be certainty over the issue," Sirisak Tiyaphan, directorgeneral of the International Affairs Department at the AttorneyGeneral's Office, said yesterday.

Saxena has been accused of embezzling US$88 million (Bt3 billion) from Bangkok Bank of Commerce, and the statute of limitations on his cases will expire next year.

-- The Nation 2009-10-27

[hazz]

It would be really nice to see this great example of humanity get something he deserves; but then he could teach the most slippery thai politician a trick or two

This is an old article about him from 2006

[Johpa]

Amazing that the hapless Canadians, who now deny entry to US citizens due to minor legal infractions made 30 years ago, are so willing to continue to host this scumbag.

[Master Chief]

Do you guys really think that this guy as a foreigner to Thailand was the main reason for the bank fraud? Do you really think that he could as an adviser start this huge scam without the knowledge of the bank directors?

They all was on it and he is the scape coat for the real con masters.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Master Chief

[crocodilexp]

Do you guys really think that this guy as a foreigner to Thailand was the main reason for the bank fraud? Do you really think that he could as an adviser start this huge scam without the knowledge of the bank directors?

They all was on it and he is the scape coat for the real con masters.

... and those are? It's easy to insinuate a possible conspiracy (they're everywhere, surely), but that isn't worth much at all.

[chiang mai]

Amazing that the hapless Canadians, who now deny entry to US citizens due to minor legal infractions made 30 years ago, are so willing to continue to host this scumbag.

What is it with some American posters in this forum needing to lambaste entire nations at one swoop, are we in the anti Brit/Canadian holiday week or what!

[Johpa]

Do you guys really think that this guy as a foreigner to Thailand was the main reason for the bank fraud? Do you really think that he could as an adviser start this huge scam without the knowledge of the bank directors?

They all was on it and he is the scape coat for the real con masters.

Rakesh was the architect of the scam, although yes, the directors were aware and facilitated the scam as well. And still, some members of Thai society are still untouchable. But to call Rakesh a mere scapegoat is a bit of an overstatement.

[Rumfoord]

Amazing that the hapless Canadians, who now deny entry to US citizens due to minor legal infractions made 30 years ago, are so willing to continue to host this scumbag.

What is it with some American posters in this forum needing to lambaste entire nations at one swoop, are we in the anti Brit/Canadian holiday week or what!

US-American are awesome.

[lannarebirth]

Amazing that the hapless Canadians, who now deny entry to US citizens due to minor legal infractions made 30 years ago, are so willing to continue to host this scumbag.

What is it with some American posters in this forum needing to lambaste entire nations at one swoop, are we in the anti Brit/Canadian holiday week or what!

As an American with Canadian PR I can tell you that CIC Canada and Customs Canada are both incompetent organizations. Not only that but vindictive as hel_l to Americans if the perceive Washington has poicies their government doesn't agree with. It never used to be that way, but it is now.

[Thai at Heart]

Do you guys really think that this guy as a foreigner to Thailand was the main reason for the bank fraud? Do you really think that he could as an adviser start this huge scam without the knowledge of the bank directors?

They all was on it and he is the scape coat for the real con masters.

He is the ultimate nut case thief who believed his own press too much. As for being a foreigner to Thailand, he is a Thai citizen. He is "Madoff light". It is embarrassing to even think that someone has protected him for this long.

He is a Thai citizen, (so sorry for those who have been waiting for years to get theirs whilst the governments have shifted around, but you know money talks!), and the bell will toll. Who knows who will bring down with him? I doubt and political party wants him to spill the beans in court.

Where is the Canadian Milliband when Thailand needs him. If Canada had more investments in Thailand the current government would have got him in 10 minutes.

[webfact]

Crime Suppression Police prepare Wednesday a cell for Rakesh Saxena, who is widely expected to be extradited from Canada this week. Saxena, who is Indian, is wanted in Thailand for his alleged involvement in the collapse of the BBC in 1996.

-- The Nation 2009/10/29

[Rumfoord]

XTRADITION BID

Thai authorities prepare to bring back Saxena

By THE NATION

Published on October 28, 2009

After a nearly decade-long legal struggle, authorities now smell victory at hand in their bid to bring back bank fraud suspect Rakesh Saxena from Canada to stand trial. "We don't know yet what the ruling will be, but we're getting prepared to bring Saxena back to Thailand," National Police spokesman General Pongsapat Pongcharoen said yesterday.

In the morning, representatives from the Office of the Attorney-General, the National Police Office and the Foreign Ministry left for Vancouver with high hopes they would escort Saxena back on Friday after the Supreme Court there delivers its final decision tomorrow on Saxena's appeal against extradition.

Pongsapat said Saxena could arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport Friday night. Once back in Thailand, he will be held in custody at the Crime Suppression Bureau under tight security and 24-hour surveillance. During his detention, he will be questioned in order to build up the case against him, with Pol General Pansiri Prapawat assigned as chief interrogator. Public prosecutors will then take on the case and are expected to have him arraigned in Criminal Court.

Acting National Police chief Patheep Tanprasert held a half-hour staff meeting to discuss how to handle Saxena once he entered the country.

Thailand requested Saxena's extradition in 1996 to stand trial for fraud in connection with an US$88-million loan that was never repaid. He was ordered to surrender for extradition in 2003, but in 2006 the order was suspended while Ottawa reconsidered the case in the wake of Thailand's military coup on September 19 of that year. Saxena, an international financier, was accused of playing a key role, together with Krirk-kiat Jalichandra, in the collapse of Bangkok Bank of Commerce (BBC). Banking authorities had to contribute Bt100 billion to pay for the damage to BBC. Krirk-kiat has faced a dozen lawsuits over the BBC scandal and still goes to court to defend himself.

Saxena's extradition case has been running for so long that most political observers have written it off. Next July will see the statute of limitations expire in the case. Saxena, who has been kept in house arrest at his luxury residence in Vancouver, has been arguing in court that his safety would be at risk if he were to be returned to Thailand. Last year, a top British Columbia judge feared Canada might suffer a "black eye" if the "notorious extradition case" passed the cut-off date, said a report in an online Canadian newspaper. If the longest-running extradition battle in Canadian history is not completed by next July, when the charges become statute-barred, he'll walk free, Canada.com said. "Noting that the case has dragged on for 'years and years', BC Appeal Court justice Edward Chiasson said he was worried it would be an embarrassment to Canada if the July 2010 deadline passes and there was no resolution," Canada.com said.

A political source said the presence of Saxena back in Thailand would become an embarrassment for some key members of the coalition government, who allegedly benefited from the failure of BBC. "It seems that the Democrats are trying to keep the Bhum Jai Thai Party at bay by trying to bring Saxena back to Thailand," the political source said.

-- The Nation October 28, 2009

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/10/28...ss_30115398.php

--------

a previous Nation article in this thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Sleepless-Ni...ci-t309730.html

[thaihome]

Do you guys really think that this guy as a foreigner to Thailand was the main reason for the bank fraud? Do you really think that he could as an adviser start this huge scam without the knowledge of the bank directors?

They all was on it and he is the scape coat for the real con masters.

You do realize that 3 other BBC officers have been found guilty and are in prison now. Hardly a scapegoat, just another crook that has taken longer to get.

TH

[Taggart]

Toronto Star

Published On Thu Oct 29 2009

Legal saga lands at top court

Rakesh Saxena: In 1996, the RCMP arrested the Marxist financier at the behest of Bangkok. The high court rules today on his appeal to stay in Canada

[geriatrickid]

I know it may come as a surprise for some people, but some countries do have legal systems intended to ensure that there is some semblance of a justice system. The accused is entitled to pursue a legal defense and that is what is being done. Believe it or not, judges in the Canadian superior court system do act on evidence. If there are sufficient grounds to stay an appeal or to continue an appeal that's what happens. It happens in the USA, UK, Australia etc. If the case was strong and the evidence overwhelming, the accused would have been extradited long ago. If a case is weak and the evidence insufficient or questionable, then delays like this result. Better a system that takes time than one where people are tossed in jail when there is a possibility of innocence on the charges brought.

As an American with Canadian PR I can tell you that CIC Canada and Customs Canada are both incompetent organizations. Not only that but vindictive as hel_l to Americans if the perceive Washington has poicies their government doesn't agree with. It never used to be that way, but it is now.

You obviously have a grievance. That is between you and the officials at the border and is not a reflection of the Canadian government policy. It's called CBSA, Canadian Border Services Agency. It is an apolitical agency and the agents do not have a political agenda. It is responsible for enforcing Canada's revenue and immigration laws at the border. As well, it is charged with protecting the borders from illegal activity. Yes, some of the agents can have an attitude problem, but that is common in every country. It's their job to ask questions and they are often successful as the recent arrest of the archbishop with child pornography on his laptop demonstrated. (He had been a visitor to Thailand and Indonesia.) The current conservative government is hardly anti american. The USA has some of the strictest work visa rules in place and the buy American economic policy is raging at full tilt. If the Canadian government says that Americans wishing to pursue commercial activity must follow some basic regulations which are far less draconian than the USA's rules and someone is agitated as a result, too bad.

[animatic]

He lost the appeal and he's coming back to LOS...

Newin must be having kittens now!

[Thai at Heart]

XTRADITION BID

Thai authorities prepare to bring back Saxena

By THE NATION

Published on October 28, 2009

A political source said the presence of Saxena back in Thailand would become an embarrassment for some key members of the coalition government, who allegedly benefited from the failure of BBC. "It seems that the Democrats are trying to keep the Bhum Jai Thai Party at bay by trying to bring Saxena back to Thailand," the political source said.

-- The Nation October 28, 2009

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/10/28...ss_30115398.php

--------

a previous Nation article in this thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Sleepless-Ni...ci-t309730.html

I assume that he also has a lot more dirt on more people than just the Bhum Jai Thai bunch. It ain't going to be just Newin getting a little hot under the collar about this one.

Sometimes in this country I have to wonder when every soap opera on TV is the same story over and over again, why someone doesn't simply parody Thai politics and change the names.

Never a dull moment. Cliff hanger endings day by day, betrayal, endless innuendo, scandal, the odd shooting. Thai politics is Coronation St, Bold and Beautiful, Dallas, Dynasty and the Simpsons rolled into one.

Endless entertainment, and top ratings year after year.

So now the Marxist Financier?????? is going to enter the plot. Roooooool, and Action!

Edited October 29, 2009 by Thai at Heart

[webfact]

Saxena Loses Canada Extradition Appeal

Rakesh Saxena, a former executive of failed Bangkok Bank of Commerce, lost his appeal at the Supreme Court of Canada and will be soon extradited to face fraud charges in Thailand, it was reported.

Bloomberg reported that the Supreme Court Thursday denied Saxena's request for a hearing at which he would have tried to overturn a lower- court decision upholding the extradition.

The high court gave no reason for its decision, Bloomberg said.

Saxena, 57, fled to Canada in May 1996 shortly after the government seized the Bangkok Bank of Commerce Plc to stop a run on deposits triggered by a central bank report that about 78 billion baht ($3.1 billion at the time) of the bank's loans were delinquent. Many of the loans were extended to top executives, their families and friends and politicians, the report said.

-- The Nation 2009/10/29

[animatic]

XTRADITION BID

Thai authorities prepare to bring back Saxena

By THE NATION

Published on October 28, 2009

A political source said the presence of Saxena back in Thailand would become an embarrassment for some key members of the coalition government, who allegedly benefited from the failure of BBC. "It seems that the Democrats are trying to keep the Bhum Jai Thai Party at bay by trying to bring Saxena back to Thailand," the political source said.

-- The Nation October 28, 2009

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/10/28...ss_30115398.php

--------

a previous Nation article in this thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Sleepless-Ni...ci-t309730.html

I assume that he also has a lot more dirt on more people than just the Bhum Jai Thai bunch. It ain't going to be just Newin getting a little hot under the collar about this one.

Sometimes in this country I have to wonder when every soap opera on TV is the same story over and over again, why someone doesn't simply parody Thai politics and change the names.

Never a dull moment. Cliff hanger endings day by day, betrayal, endless innuendo, scandal, the odd shooting. Thai politics is Coronation St, Bold and Beautiful, Dallas, Dynasty and the Simpsons rolled into one.

Endless entertainment, and top ratings year after year.

So now the Marxist Financier?????? is going to enter the plot. Roooooool, and Action!

Let's not forget 'Mock The Week' and 'Black Adder' all rolled into one.

[webfact]

UPDATE

Saxena Loses Canada Extradition Appeal

Rakesh Saxena, a former executive of failed Bangkok Bank of Commerce, lost his appeal at the Supreme Court of Canada and will be soon extradited to face fraud charges in Thailand, it was reported.

Bloomberg reported that the Supreme Court Thursday denied Saxena's request for a hearing at which he would have tried to overturn a lower- court decision upholding the extradition.

The high court gave no reason for its decision, Bloomberg said.

Saxena, 57, fled to Canada in May 1996 shortly after the government seized the Bangkok Bank of Commerce Plc to stop a run on deposits triggered by a central bank report that about 78 billion baht ($3.1 billion at the time) of the bank's loans were delinquent. Many of the loans were extended to top executives, their families and friends and politicians, the report said.

The Vancouver Sun reported that Saxena may be taken by Canadian police to Vancouver airport, perhaps as early as today, and be handed over to Thai officials.

-- The Nation 2009/10/30

[Scott]

That has been one long saga and the thing is, this is just one chapter. There's more to come.

[slapout]

It would be interesting to see how many of the loans made to top executives, bases on inflated collateral, was written off by the bank. Going further, what means did the borrowers have to pay those loans then or today? It will be interesting to see what info comes out in the court room. This of course depends on the defendant maintaining a healthy body.

[ratcatcher]

Fugitive Saxena returned to Thailand, ending 13-year judicial marathon

By David Baines, Vancouver Sun columnistOctober 29, 2009

VANCOUVER — After more than 13 years fighting extradition while holed up in Vancouver, financial fugitive Rakesh Saxena is finally on his way back to Bangkok.

The Supreme Court of Canada on Thursday cleared the runway for Saxena to be returned to Thailand, officially ending the longest extradition case in Canadian history.

The court announced it was denying Saxena’s request to appeal an earlier extradition order. As usually happens in such cases, the court gave no reasons.

On Wednesday, before the decision was announced, Saxena turned himself over to RCMP, as per the terms of his house arrest in Richmond. He spent the night at the North Fraser Pre-Trial Centre.

After the decision was announced Thursday morning, RCMP whisked him to the Vancouver airport and handed him to as posse of Thai officials, who had earlier flown to Vancouver in anticipation of a favourable ruling. He was then put on a 1:40 p.m. flight to Bangkok.

His departure is a huge relief: For a little guy, he was sure a big menace.

For 13 years and three months, Saxena — who is barely 5-6 — milked our excessively generous judicial system, costing taxpayers millions of dollars as he fought extradition at every possible turn.

During most of this period, we graciously allowed him — albeit at his own expense — to live in the relative luxury of house arrest, first in a False Creek condo, and later in a more spacious house in Richmond’s Terra Nova area.

He repaid us for this hospitality by wrecking havoc on the local financial market, mainly by promoting essentially worthless stocks that trade on the U.S. over-the-counter markets.

He conspired with crooks and securities offenders to cheat investors, both here and abroad. Among them were Summerland bank robber Luke Sommers; as well as Toronto stockbroker Stephen Taub and West Vancouver stock promoter Don Rutledge, both certified stock offenders.

He was the consummate tar baby: Anybody who came within his orbit — brokers, lawyers, politicians — were caught in his web of evil. Many sued for redress, many more were sued by Saxena, who used and abused our courts for his personal purposes. (Court records show he has been a plaintiff or defendant in 36 different lawsuits filed in B.C. since he washed up in Vancouver in the mid-1990s.)

He made fools of police and securities regulators, who stood by and did nothing, trusting he would soon be extradited. As events unfolded, however, he could have been prosecuted, convicted and jailed many times over during his 13-year hiatus in Canada.

He also managed to embarrass us internationally by plotting a military coup in Sierra Leone while in custody at the police lock-up at 222 Main Street. After news of the planned coup leaked to the media, which forced him to cancel his plan, he cheekily told reporters there was nothing in the terms of his detention preventing him from plotting coups in foreign countries. The embarrassing part was that he was right.

But his biggest accomplishment was to make us look like fools while playing our extradition system like a virtuoso violinist. Countless publications, from Washington to London to Bangkok, ran stories mocking the Canadian way of dealing with fugitives from international justice.

How did he do it?

I met with Saxena, now 57, on several occasions while he was under house arrest in both Vancouver and Richmond. I found him to be immensely intelligent — one of the smartest people I have ever met. He was also extremely engaging, funny, friendly, and courteous. He always took my calls, even when he was suing us. It was hard not to like him.

He was both remarkably candid and disturbingly deceptive. He readily admitted, for example, that he had met with British soldier-of-fortune Tim Spicer in the Vancouver lock-up and advanced $1 million for the intended coup in Sierra Leone, which he hoped would enable him to regain control of valuable bauxite concessions there.

But he also had a lawyer-like ability to orchestrate deals to keep himself legally onside, even though he was morally offside. In 2005, when I learned he had lined up European boiler-rooms to flog worthless stock, he insisted he was simply an intermediary and not a party to any of the contractual arrangements. “It’s a thin red line, I grant you, but it’s still a red line,” he said.

His most remarkable characteristic was his patience and resilience. There are not many people who could spend so much time in a cage, albeit a gilded one. Whenever I asked him how he was coping, he would be breezily philosophical. It was like water off a duck’s back.

This was the inherent tension in the extradition proceedings: The statute of limitations was due to expire in July 2010. Could Saxena outlast the Canadian justice system?

As time passed, I began to think he would. So did Saxena. He even mused about getting Canadian citizenship after it was all over. The truly frightening thing was that, because he had been allowed to get away with his financial misdealings, there might not have been any reason to block him.

But we were both wrong. Saxena is now winging his way back to Thailand.

His future looks bleak. One of his alleged co-conspirators, Krekkiat Jalichan — who initially fled to Vancouver but returned to Bangkok on his own volition — was recently sentenced to 30 years in jail. Others involved in the original scandal have also received lengthy jail terms.

Saxena will no doubt fight the charges. He has already sued the Thai government for $50 million, allegedly for withholding information favourable to his extradition case. But he will have to muster his defence from jail, and he will soon find that the cages in Bangkok are not quite as gilded as the ones in Canada.'

Courtesy VANCOUVER SUN

I guess there are a few people here in Thailand having sleepless nights over this guy.

[justnbangkok]

Amazing that the hapless Canadians, who now deny entry to US citizens due to minor legal infractions made 30 years ago, are so willing to continue to host this scumbag.

What is it with some American posters in this forum needing to lambaste entire nations at one swoop, are we in the anti Brit/Canadian holiday week or what!

Stop crying u baby!!!! Everyone knows that Canada lets anyone into their country including terrorists. You and your kind are always bashing americans on here and when an American tells the truth about Canada and Britain then you whine like the wimp A$$ Canadian that you are. BOO HOO!!! It's okay for us to bash americans but then they bash back it's unfair. GROW UP!!!!! Everyone knows that Canada and Britain people secretly supported the 9/11 attacks and said that America deserved it along with the recession. So once you and your people stop bashing us and we'll stop bashing you. If not, you're a free target. Over sensitive boob!!!

[bkkjames]

I mentioned Kevlar in another thread, perhaps this guy should invest in some as well.

[bkkjames]

Amazing that the hapless Canadians, who now deny entry to US citizens due to minor legal infractions made 30 years ago, are so willing to continue to host this scumbag.

What is it with some American posters in this forum needing to lambaste entire nations at one swoop, are we in the anti Brit/Canadian holiday week or what!

Stop crying u baby!!!! Everyone knows that Canada lets anyone into their country including terrorists. You and your kind are always bashing americans on here and when an American tells the truth about Canada and Britain then you whine like the wimp A$$ Canadian that you are. BOO HOO!!! It's okay for us to bash americans but then they bash back it's unfair. GROW UP!!!!! Everyone knows that Canada and Britain people secretly supported the 9/11 attacks and said that America deserved it along with the recession. So once you and your people stop bashing us and we'll stop bashing you. If not, you're a free target. Over sensitive boob!!!

This kind of post does nothing to lessen the widely held reputation that follows folks like you around.

A tip from Lord Buddha, "Unless you can improve upon silence, say nothing."

[mrtoad]

I mentioned Kevlar in another thread, perhaps this guy should invest in some as well.

Think you are right there. There will be a number of people dreading his return as he probably has enough dirt to bury a fair few rather important people.

[Rumfoord]

By THE NATION

...

A political source said the presence of Saxena back in Thailand would become an embarrassment for some key members of the coalition government, who allegedly benefited from the failure of BBC. "It seems that the Democrats are trying to keep the Bhum Jai Thai Party at bay by trying to bring Saxena back to Thailand," the political source said.

how will that work? keep them at bay?

will there some coaltion heads roll, or is just a threatening letter, Don't fail to obey?

[rixalex]

Everyone knows that Canada and Britain people secretly supported the 9/11 attacks and said that America deserved it along with the recession.

"Canada and Britain people" ???

Not only do you speak nonsense, but you speak it badly.

[bkkjames]

Everyone knows that Canada and Britain people secretly supported the 9/11 attacks and said that America deserved it along with the recession.

"Canada and Britain people" ???

Not only do you speak nonsense, but you speak it badly.

consider the source