Thai Court Delays Extradition Of Alleged Russian Arms Dealer Viktor Bout

[webfact]

Thai court delays extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK, October 4, 2010 (AFP) - A long-running US legal battle to secure the extradition of an alleged Russian arms dealer dubbed the "Merchant of Death" stalled Monday as a Thai court declined to drop new charges against him.

Viktor Bout, a 43-year-old former Soviet air force pilot thought to speak six languages and go by at least seven different aliases, has been fighting extradition since his March 2008 arrest after a sting operation in Bangkok.

A Thai appeals court in August ordered the Russian to be handed over to Washington -- despite fierce opposition from Moscow -- but the process has been held up by technicalities over new accusations of money-laundering and fraud.

In a bid to clear the way for his extradition, prosecutors asked Thailand's Criminal Court to drop legal proceedings linked to the additional charges, but the court rejected the request, scheduling another hearing for Tuesday.

Bout, wearing a bullet-proof vest, was escorted to court from a high-security Bangkok prison earlier Monday by a team of police commandos.

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.

He 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.

Asked by reporters at the court whether he thought he would receive a fair trial in the US, he replied: "No. Of course not."

After the court delivered its ruling, he said: "I want to go home."

The case of Bout -- who was said to have inspired the Hollywood film "Lord of War" starring Nicolas Cage -- has forced Thailand into a diplomatic balancing act.

The United States has traditionally been a close ally of the kingdom but Bangkok has also stressed it wants to maintain warm ties with Russia, an important trading partner.

A furious Moscow previously said the extradition attempt was politically motivated, vowing "to do everything necessary" to bring Bout home.

The final decision on whether to send him to the US could rest with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

"In accordance with the law, ultimately the executive has the power to decide, but I would rather wait for the court ruling," Abhisit told reporters last week.

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.

A Thai criminal court had ruled last year that it did not have the authority to extradite Bout because FARC was not listed as a terrorist group in Thailand -- a decision overturned by the appeals court in August.

The nickname "Merchant of Death" was coined by a former British foreign office minister and also used for a 2007 book on Bout's alleged activities.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-10-04

[webfact]

Court Dismisses Attorney General's Petition on Bout Case

The INN news agency is reporting that the Criminal Court has turned down a petition submitted by the Attorney General to dismiss Viktor Bout of money laundering chargles. The court reasons that the defendant wants to fight the petition.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-04

[webfact]

MERCHANT OF DEATH

Thai court's ruling stalls Bout's extradition

The Appeal Court rejected on Monday the public prosecutors' a request to drop a second set of charges against alleged Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout.

The ruling would stall the his long-awaited extradition to the US.

A Thai court in August ruled for Bout to be extradited to the US. The requested second charge was asked to be dropped to faciliate the extradition.

However the Monday ruling would prolong the extraditoin as the new legal proceedings will be launched.

-- The Nation 2010-10-04

[IAMSOBAD]

Proving corruption in the courts.

Courts never push a case to go forward when a defendant wants it and the attorney general wants it dropped.

Money money greedy greedy Thais.

All of you defending Bout have no respect for human life.

He is SOoooooooooo dirty. Please dont cloud your judgement with your hatred.

[Phatcharanan]

Proving corruption in the courts.

All of you defending Bout have no respect for human life.

He is SOoooooooooo dirty. Please dont cloud your judgement with your hatred.

How on earth does this prove corruption in Thai courts?

Care to post some facts or are you just 'sprouting off'?

[IAMSOBAD]

Follow the money!

[TAWP]

He is SOoooooooooo dirty. Please dont cloud your judgement with your hatred.

Isn't that exactly what you shouldn't be doing?

[IAMSOBAD]

If he is just a Normal guy then why is Russia so involved?

Why is the PM involved?

The courts are being manipulated.

In thailand that is done with money!

[Robby nz]

See the yanks are getting real serious about coming to get him.

Not just a plane this time,

Now they have sent a whole <deleted> aircraft carrier.

[webfact]

Thai court ruling stalls extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer to US

BANGKOK, Oct 4 - Thailand's Criminal Court on Monday dropped a prosecutor's request to withdraw the second round of charges on money laundering against alleged arms smuggler Viktor Bout, saying the defendant opposed the request, delaying the extradition of the wanted former Soviet air force officer to the United states.

An elusive Russian businessman dubbed "The Merchant of Death', Mr Bout arrived at court Monday morning, wearing a bulletproof vest and under tightened security protection by Thai commandos.

Asked if he expected a fair trial in the US, Mr Bout shouted to reporters from a cell: "No! For sure no! Which fair trial are you talking about?''

The judges explained that since Thai extradition law did not stipulate about dropping legal procedures, therefore the court had to apply the Criminal Procedure Code, Article 35. Under the law, a defendant has the right to object to the charges against him being dropped, which Mr Bout decided to do to thwart any attempt to extradite him to the US.

As the court rejected the prosecutors' request, the trial on money laundering and wire fraud will proceed. The judges, however, did not immediately set a date for the next hearing.

The Thai Court of Appeals ruled on August 20 to extradite Mr Bout, arrested and detained in Bangkok since March 2008, to the US to face charges of conspiracy to kill Americans, conspiracy to kill officials and employees of the United States government, conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organisation.

The ruling of the Thai Court of Appeals to extradite Mr Bout overturned a lower court ruling in August 2009 that rejected a US request that Mr Bout face trial there.

The extradition of the Merchant of Death however can't proceed as Mr Bout faces a second case concerning money laundering and wire fraud charges which was accepted by Thailand’s Court of First Instance – at the earlier request of the US government.

The US government later requested the Thai foreign ministry that the charges be withdrawn in order to proceed with extradition. The Office of Attorney-General later agreed to seek court approval to withdraw the second charges as proposed by the US government. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-10-04

[hammered]

The filing of the extra case by the US was silly and overkill. Not surprising the Thai courts made this decision, and if a case is brought it should be heard for the sake of justice. It makes sense it is not just pulled. Let justice be done and not just poltical manouvering.

Im not commenting on the rights and wrongs of Bout here but the overly aggressive attempts of the US to use Thai courts to do exactly what it wanted, which were also not helped by sending a plane packed full of marshalls straight after the initial decision. Thailand is not a colony even if it surprises some it wont act like one.

[asiawatcher]

The filing of the extra case by the US was silly and overkill. Not surprising the Thai courts made this decision, and if a case is brought it should be heard for the sake of justice. It makes sense it is not just pulled. Let justice be done and not just poltical manouvering.

Im not commenting on the rights and wrongs of Bout here but the overly aggressive attempts of the US to use Thai courts to do exactly what it wanted, which were also not helped by sending a plane packed full of marshalls straight after the initial decision. Thailand is not a colony even if it surprises some it wont act like one.

Concur wholeheartedly - big brother US is flexing its (failing) muscle and can't understand why Thailand doesn't jump! The plane fiasco was simply bullying by the US, a lot of huff and puff and thankfully they were sent home with their tails between their legs.

Thailand may not be perfect in anything at all but it will always resist 'demands' and aggressive actions of other countries. This is their soil, their system and the way they work. We all complain of course, and I think Bout is as guilty as sin but I do like it when big brother gets his dirty nose rubbed when it is full of huff, puff and bluster.

[chantorn]

Why not just send him to the jail of his own country.

[ScubaBuddha]

Thailand needs to look to the Russians like it is doing everything it can. This is delaying the inevitable.

[onlooker]

I think the News forum main page has the answer.

[elcent]

I think the News forum main page has the answer.

[Tropicalevo]

Why not just send him to the jail of his own country.

I suspect that if they send him to Russia - he will not go to jail. As I understand the case against him, it is thought that he is selling Russian weapons to some very naughty people all over the world.

They are not going to jail one of their top 'salesman'

[Tropicalevo]

I think the News forum main page has the answer.

There is both good and bad at all levels of the legal system here.

I know of cases that were won fairly 'against all odds' and I also know of cases where some very bad people not only got let off 'through a technicality', but they also managed to get some compensation as well.

It is wrong to blame the whole system. There are some people out there trying to make it right. However, when there is enough BIG money involved, justice sometimes finds it hard to see the light of day.

[george]

Riz Khan- Arms Trafficker Viktor Bout

"MERCHANT OF DEATH"

[webfact]

MERCHANT OF DEATH

Court rules today on Bout extradition

Follow this link:

[yellow1red1]

question on the money laundering and fraud charges, alleged.

if convicted, where would he serve jail, US or LOs?