Extradition Of Alleged Russian Arms Dealer Viktor Bout Delayed: Thai PM

[webfact]

Extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer delayed: Thai PM

by Boonradom Chitradon

BANGKOK (AFP) --- Thailand said Wednesday that the extradition to the United States of an alleged Russian arms dealer dubbed the "Merchant of Death" has been delayed because of legal complications.

Police had said on Tuesday that Viktor Bout, who faces terrorism charges, would be escorted from jail on Wednesday by 50 commandos to a Bangkok airport, where US authorities have sent a private jet to fly him out.

But Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the extradition -- which is strongly opposed by Russia -- would not take place on Wednesday after all.

"There are several steps in the legal process," he told reporters.

Bout, said to have inspired the Hollywood film "Lord of War" starring Nicolas Cage, has been fighting extradition since his March 2008 arrest after a Bangkok sting operation involving US agents posing as Colombian rebels.

He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted in the United States on charges including conspiracy to kill US nationals and to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organisation.

Bout rejects the charges and says that he ran a legitimate air cargo business.

A Thai appeals court on Friday ordered the extradition of the 43-year-old former Soviet air force pilot, who is said to speak six languages and go by at least seven different aliases.

But the process has been held up because of new charges of money-laundering and fraud announced by US prosecutors in February this year, with another court hearing in Thailand set for October 4.

Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in charge of national security, said that the Thai Criminal Court would have to drop proceedings relating to the new US charges before he can be handed over to the United States.

"There are new charges that the United States filed and they are still in court, so the prosecutor has to seek court approval to drop them and we don't know what the court's decision will be," he told reporters.

He confirmed that the United States had already sent an aircraft which was waiting to pick up Bout, but he said Thailand would not be influenced by outside pressure.

"The government will not put our country at risk to play a game of international politics. There is no benefit for our country to gamble with the fate of only one man," he said.

"We are acting in accordance with the law and no one can tell us to speed up the extradition, no matter if five or 10 aircraft are parked there. Thailand is not a country under anyone's mandate. We have our sovereignty," he said.

Washington, which has described Bout as "one of the world's most prolific arms traffickers," had lobbied hard for his extradition, summoning the Thai ambassador last week to emphasise it was of "the highest priority".

"We look forward to seeing him in a US court," US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said on Tuesday.

Moscow for its part has voiced "extreme disappointment" about the planned extradition, saying the decision was politically motivated.

Bout allegedly agreed to supply millions of dollars of weapons to undercover US agents in Thailand posing as rebels from Colombia's Marxist FARC group, which Washington considers a terrorist organisation.

US prosecutors allege he agreed to the sale with the understanding that the weapons were to be used to attack United States helicopters.

A US indictment accuses Bout of using a fleet of cargo planes to transport weapons and military equipment to parts of the world including Africa, South America and the Middle East.

It alleges that the arms he has sold or brokered have fuelled conflicts and supported regimes in Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Sudan.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-08-25

[Thai at Heart]

Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in charge of national security, said that the Thai Criminal Court would have to drop those new charges against Bout before he can be handed over to the United States.

Aha. Just as someone mentioned elsewhere. He can't go anywhere because he is sitting on charges on something else.

Seeing how quickly the Thai legal system can or cannot move, that plane may be sitting at DMK for a few more months/years/decades/eons.

[webfact]

Thai prosecutors await US legal documents on dropping new charges against Russian arms dealer

Thai prosecutors await US legal documents on dropping new charges, money laundering and fraud, against Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout before extradition

-- TNA 2010-08-25

[bkkjames]

This is sure turning into a diplomatic hot potato for the Govt. I suggest they ship him off to Cambodia first and let them deal with the US / Russia pressure. 

[ChiangMaiThai]

Man on man, the US sure is eager. Private plan on the runway. But you're not gonna get him today... Go Russia!

[TheBarbarian]

Let us hope he goes free. it would teach the USA a lesson. The US wanted to look smart by adding new charges (at least it shows that they have a judicial system on par with that of Thailand, which is only working for very rich Nationals). Now we may hope that it takes more than 90 days to run those charges it means he goes free.

[daboyz1]

This ought to be interesting. The Thai govt. has pretty much ensured they look incompetent no matter which way they go now. What a joke.

[daboyz1]

Let us hope he goes free. it would teach the USA a lesson. The US wanted to look smart by adding new charges (at least it shows that they have a judicial system on par with that of Thailand, which is only working for very rich Nationals). Now we may hope that it takes more than 90 days to run those charges it means he goes free.

Yeah good idea. I wonder how the Russian govt. would feel if he was selling arms and explosives to Chechen rebels?

[sausageandmash]

The Russians will get him out somehow. I can't see them allowing the U.S to take him to Washington. He was trained in resisting interrogation techniques, so it will probably take the Yanks at least 1 week to get him to admit to his own name. The Cold War fire is being stoked up nicely.

Let us hope he goes free. it would teach the USA a lesson. The US wanted to look smart by adding new charges (at least it shows that they have a judicial system on par with that of Thailand, which is only working for very rich Nationals). Now we may hope that it takes more than 90 days to run those charges it means he goes free.

Yeah good idea. I wonder how the Russian govt. would feel if he was selling arms and explosives to Chechen rebels?

[daboyz1]

The Russians will get him out somehow. I can't see them allowing the U.S to take him to Washington. He was trained in resisting interrogation techniques, so it will probably take the Yanks at least 1 week to get him to admit to his own name. The Cold War fire is being stoked up nicely.

Let us hope he goes free. it would teach the USA a lesson. The US wanted to look smart by adding new charges (at least it shows that they have a judicial system on par with that of Thailand, which is only working for very rich Nationals). Now we may hope that it takes more than 90 days to run those charges it means he goes free.

Yeah good idea. I wonder how the Russian govt. would feel if he was selling arms and explosives to Chechen rebels?

I think that's what the Russians are worried about. What he will tell the U.S. I doubt they actually care one bit about him personally, just care about what he'll tell the U.S.

[Just1Voice]

My guess is that, if he really is guilty of supplying arms on the scale he's been accused of, then he would have to have some very strong connections in the Russian government, which means they don't want him talking because of the possible implications to their officials. I agree with daboyz1 in that they don't want him talking.

With that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised to see a spectacular, Hollywood-style escape on the way to the airport, whenever that happens, where the Russians make the Thai "commandos" look like idiots (probably not hard to do), and then wisk him away to Russia, or some other country. Or, there's the possibility of a assassination of the man, also backed by the Russians.

This might turn out to be better than the movie.

[sedeflonga]

The world is tired of the US trying to police the whole world.

Yes, it is possible that those weapons could be used to shoot

down an American helicopter, because the US is everywhere

where it thinks it has a 'right' to (whether that is true or not),

and there are most likely helicopters of them too.

As Henry Kissinger said:" The US has no friends, it only has interests!"

[webfact]

Thai PM: Extradition of Russian arms dealer delayed

BANGKOK: -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday the extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to the US was not possible today pending legal procedures.

The prime minister said Mr Bout is now being detained in a Thai jail and there are several steps in the legal process (before Thailand can extradite him).

Chief prosecutor for Foreign Affairs Sirisak Tiyaphan said Thailand has not yet extradited Mr Bout to the United States because new charges have been filed against him by the US prosecutors. Prosecutors are awaiting US legal documents stating that the additional charges are dropped.

Mr Sirisak explained that Mr Bout also has been charged with money laundering, electronic fraud and document fabrication.

The US authorities have to submit a letter of notification stating that it has dropped additional charges against Mr Bout to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry will then forward the letter to the Office of the Attorney-General which will submit it to the court immediately.

The chief prosecutor for foreign affairs asserted that there is no political or foreign intervention in the Thai judicial process.

Mr Bout is in solitary confinement at Bangkwang Central Prison amid tight security and closed-circuit cameras. A special 20-strong contingent of prison guards are assigned to the high-profile prisoner.

Correctiond Department director-general Chartchai Sutthiklom said the department was contacted by the prosecutors that the process has been pending new charges.

After the court order, extradition must take place within 90 days. He said the documents are expected to be ready in a few days. An American jet with air marshal is waiting to take Mr Bout to the US, however, the date of extradition will be kept confidential, he said.

The Thai Court of Appeals last week ruled that Mr Bout, dubbed the Merchant of Death, must be extradited within three months, or else be permitted to go free. It overturned a lower court's ruling in August 2009 that rejected a US request that Mr Bout face trial there.

Mr Bout, a 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer, has denied any involvement in illicit activities including arms trafficking to conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East. He claimed he ran a legitimate business.

His arrest at a Bangkok luxury hotel in March 2008 was part of an elaborate sting in which US agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which the US government classifies as a terrorist organisation.

Mr Bout was subsequently indicted in the US on four terrorism-related charges that include conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to FARC.

The US indictment also charged Mr Bout with conspiring to kill Americans, conspiring to kill US officials or employees, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. He could face a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted. (MCOT online news, agencies)

-- TNA 2010-08-25

[webfact]

MERCHANT OF DEATH

Thailand prepares to extradite alleged Russian arms dealer

BANGKOK: -- Thai authorities on Wednesday were finalizing legal procedures to extradite suspected arms dealer Viktor Bout to the US where he faces charges of selling weapons to terrorists.

A US Marshals jet arrived at Bangkok's Don Mueang Military Airport Tuesday evening, fueling reports that Bout's extradition was imminent.

But his departure was stalled by the legal process. A Bangkok appeals court ruled Friday that Russian national Bout, dubbed the Merchant of Death by his critics, must be extradited within three months.

On the same day, however, prosecutors had submitted a new case against Bout for money laundering, fraud and violations of sanctions which was accepted by the Bangkok Criminal Court.

"Before Bout's extradition can take place, the second case needs to be dropped by the court," Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said.

The US informed the Foreign Ministry of its decision to revoke the second case Tuesday night. The court was expected to drop the case Wednesday, paving the way for Bout's extradition. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters that it was unlikely the legal requirements could be met in time to extradite Bout by Wednesday.

"I guarantee that this is in accordance with legal procedures," said Sirisak Tiyapan, the director general of the attorney general's international affairs department. "There is no political interference involved."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reportedly vowed to do whatever he can to block Bout's extradition to the US.

Bout, 44, was arrested in Bangkok in March 2008, when he was caught in a sting operation led by US agents who posed as arms buyers for a leftist rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

He was indicted in the US for attempting to sell weapons to a terrorist group and Washington sought his extradition.

Bangkok Criminal Court last year rejected the extradition request, claiming Thailand deemed FARC a political group, not terrorists, and Thai law prohibits extradition for political offences.

Prosecutors appealed the verdict and the Bangkok Appeal Court ruled on Friday that Bout had engaged in criminal activities and thus should be extradited.

-- The Nation 2010-08-25

[dviol]

Are we really so ignoreant that we'd care what the "US" agenda in this matter is? Who cares at this point? If he is truly the supplier of weapons to places like Sierra Leona and the Congo where mass rape, looting, and murder on a scale that parallel an epedemic occcur regularly, than who cares who wants him? Let New Zealand arrest him for all I care.

Do we as people turn a blind eye to genocide merely because we care who they killed or why? Shame on you! I don't care who his enemies are or what someone has on him; wholesale murder is wrong no matter who the target is. Do you suggest otherwise????????????????

The world is tired of the US trying to police the whole world.

Yes, it is possible that those weapons could be used to shoot

down an American helicopter, because the US is everywhere

where it thinks it has a 'right' to (whether that is true or not),

and there are most likely helicopters of them too.

As Henry Kissinger said:" The US has no friends, it only has interests!"

[farangtopper1]

Delay already. Very good I hope he is shipped to Russia and not to America.

Let America loose face. They make a mess of the whole world with their arms dealings and wars.

Somebody should put them in court!

[AsiaCheese]

Interesting statement:

"There is no benefit for our country to gamble with the fate of only one man," he said.

Gambling with the fate of how many men (politically correct: persons) would be the lower limit for benefiting the country???

[sedeflonga]

The US practicing a double standard (which seemed to be a 'standard' already). Itself it wages wars, without UN blessing like in IRAQ,

kills innocents by the thousands and sells weapons allover the world. Did you ever thought about that? I don't think. Yes, I hope Russia will get Victor back. Period.

Are we really so ignoreant that we'd care what the "US" agenda in this matter is? Who cares at this point? If he is truly the supplier of weapons to places like Sierra Leona and the Congo where mass rape, looting, and murder on a scale that parallel an epedemic occcur regularly, than who cares who wants him? Let New Zealand arrest him for all I care.

Do we as people turn a blind eye to genocide merely because we care who they killed or why? Shame on you! I don't care who his enemies are or what someone has on him; wholesale murder is wrong no matter who the target is. Do you suggest otherwise????????????????

The world is tired of the US trying to police the whole world.

Yes, it is possible that those weapons could be used to shoot

down an American helicopter, because the US is everywhere

where it thinks it has a 'right' to (whether that is true or not),

and there are most likely helicopters of them too.

As Henry Kissinger said:" The US has no friends, it only has interests!"

[SanSaiExPat]

Let us hope he goes free. it would teach the USA a lesson. The US wanted to look smart by adding new charges (at least it shows that they have a judicial system on par with that of Thailand, which is only working for very rich Nationals). Now we may hope that it takes more than 90 days to run those charges it means he goes free.

And what lesson would that be, Mr. Barbarian? Would you care to educate us? You must be a political savant,. You instruct us that the, "US wanted to look smart..." How does the addition of new charges enhance the position of the United States government in this matter? I'd really like to understand your thinking behind that. In your second sentence you indite both the US and the Thai governments judicial systems, They "...only work for very rich Nationals." Are the US and Thai judicial systems more or less corrupt than the judicial systems of other countries? Your native country perhaps? Would you say your native country is also on a par with the US and Thailand?

[Arjay]

No doubt a delay so everyone can get their "cut" before delivering him to the U.S. TIT!

[Barin]

Let us hope he goes free. it would teach the USA a lesson. The US wanted to look smart by adding new charges (at least it shows that they have a judicial system on par with that of Thailand, which is only working for very rich Nationals). Now we may hope that it takes more than 90 days to run those charges it means he goes free.

Yes, I strongly support this point of view.

Thailand is an independent state and is not supposed to obey the orders from Washington.

And Thailand doesn't want to spoil diplomatic relations with Russia.

Good relations with Russia are very important to Thailand.

[webfact]

Sirichok concedes meeting Bout but not framing Thaksin

By The Nation

Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha on Wednesday admitted he had met with Russian arms dealer Victor Boout, though denying the allegation that his meeting was an attempt to frame ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra in the arms smuggling ring.

Bout has been arrested in Bangkok a sting operation for international arms smuggling and is awaiting to be extradited for trail in the United States.

"Let me explain about my involvement with Victor Bout, his lawyer has confirmed I met with Victor - this is true but my meeting was not about faulting or framing Thaksin," he said.

Sirichok said he paid a prison visit to Bout on April 11 under normal visting hours, denying any special privilege to arrange the meeting at night.

He said as MP, he wanted to investigate the news reports which the opposition in Sri Lanka had claimed the weapons smuggled from North Korea and seized by Thailand during transit were destined for Columbo.

The charter flight was suspected to have linked to Bout, he said, prompting him to seek more details because of possible impacts on Thai security.

He insisted that he talked to Bout with the aim to solve the mystery surrounding the weapons seized at Don Mueang Airport and not the case related to Bout's extradition hearing nor did he mention anything about Thaksin.

He said from talking to Bout, he gained some informations about the international arms smuggling ring.

"When I was in the opposition, I focused on my checking duty. And I still carry on my duty as a coalition member," he said, defending his investigation into the arms smuggling ring.

He also confirmed he initiated the meeting with Bout without keeping the prime minister informed.

Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan on Tuesday brought to light Sirichok's meeting with Bout, claiming the Democrat was trying to convince the Russian arms dealer to link Thaksin to the armed red shirts.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva refused to comment on the matter although he voiced suspicion Jatuporn had fabricated the story about the attempt to smear Thaksin.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the government was not aware of nor condoned Sirichok-Bout meeting.

-- The Nation 2010-08-25

[Jingthing]

The support here shown for this criminal from non-democratic Russia now run by the Putin dictator over democratic USA tells us more about the psychiatric sickness among the membership here rather than this specific case. Virulent hatred of America trumps reason it seems. BTW, the smart money is still on his extradition.

[Bagwan]

With that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised to see a spectacular, Hollywood-style escape on the way to the airport, whenever that happens, where the Russians make the Thai "commandos" look like idiots (probably not hard to do), and then wisk him away to Russia, or some other country.  Or, there's the possibility of a assassination of the man, also backed by the Russians.  

This might turn out to be better than the movie. 

You've been watching too much brain frying Thai TV. Hollywood isn't writing the script for this charade. 

What I find totally bizarre is that it takes 50 Commandos to transport a villain a few miles from the nick to the airport. TIT would explain it I suppose. 

[Thai at Heart]

Seems that Mr. Bout has just pulled his get out of jail card out his pocket, and realised it isn't worth what he was promised.

How exactly does one renege on a deal with the world's largest arms dealer?

You have to love the intrigue of politics in this country.

[animatic]

Drop the second charges and off he goes.

[Piengrudee]

in any matter, USA will win at the end.

[animatic]

The support here shown for this criminal from non-democratic Russia now run by the Putin dictator over democratic USA tells us more about the psychiatric sickness among the membership here rather than this specific case. Virulent hatred of America trumps reason it seems. BTW, the smart money is still on his extradition.

Gotta agree with you on this.

More interest in throwing rocks the big dog on the block, from a safe distance,

than dealing ideas on the logic of the questions of the day.

When the paper work to cancel these other money laundering charges, in Thailand,

are processed, off he goes.

I think Thailand is seeing the need to make sure ALL possible T's are crossed and I's dotted '

before sending him off, so they can beg 'we had no choice', to an angry Russia.

And Russia's anger seems rather disproportionate to what this guy SHOULD be,

which indicates he has valuable info Russia REALLY REALLY wants buried.

Will he name names dates and place to get a cushier ride in Leavenworth?

Must be a real worry in the Kremlin.

Edited August 25, 2010 by animatic

[alibaba007]

Mr Viktor Bout is a terrorist because he sell arms to "terrorist" americans say.

Why not send Mr. Bush to The Hague International Criminal Court for the use of arms?

[Just1Voice]

TO BARIN:

“Good relations with Russia are very important to Thailand”. Let’s see, the U.S. contributes about $20 MILLION a year to the Thai Military. And the Russians give how much???? If you google “Thailand Military Aid”, of the 57 categories listed for weapons, only 2 come from Russia: AK-47’s and RPG’s, while the U.S. occupies 29 categories. Many of the airports of this country were built by the U.S. during the Vietnam war, such as Don Muang and Chiang Mai, using U.S dollars, and then just GIVEN to the Thai government after the war. It was the U.S. who paid for the printing and distributions of photos and calendars of a certain individual that you find in every house and business throughout Thailand.

Can you give me just one good example of what Russia has done in the past 35 years for Thailand?

TO BAGWAN:

Hate to disillusion you but I spend more time taking one shower in a day than I spend watching Thai television in a month. And as for the “script”; no Hollywood isn’t writing this one, but since the “leading protagonists” are the U.S. and Russia, with one desperate to get him, and the other just as desperate not to let them have him, nothing that happens from this point on would surprise me.