Viktor Bout Prefers Thai Prison

[webfact]

Bout's lawyer asks court to revise his prison conditions

Viktor Bout, file photo. Source: Wikipedia

NEW YORK: -- Russian businessman Victor Bout’s lawyer Albert Dayan on Tuesday filed a motion in a New York court with a request to change the Russian’s prison conditions. Victor Bout has been in solitary confinement for over a year.

"His isolation in a cell is similar to the unbearable conditions of imprisonment of Count Monte Cristo," the lawyer drew an analogy with the literary hero of Alexandre Dumas. The lawyer referred to conditions of Bout’s detention in New York as “barbarian,” compared to those of the Thai prison where Bout spent about two years.

In November a jury found Bout guilty of an attempt to purchase and sell missiles, and of supporting terrorism through cooperation with the group "Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia."

The Russian businessman was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the United States. He faces 25 years to life imprisonment. Bout insists he is not guilty.

Source: http://english.ruvr....8/65569816.html

-- english.ruvr.ru 2012-02-09

[laurentbkk]

At least in Thailand he can have a VIP treatment and with his money he can buy whatever he wants ... sure for him Thai jails are like 5* hotels ...

[airconsult]

" Victor Bout has been in solitary confinement for over a year."

Anyone guess why the prison would decide to do that? Seems a bit excessive.

[webfact]

Viktor Bout to Be Sentenced on March 12 – U.S. Court

NEW YORK: -- A New York court has rejected an appeal from Russian businessman Viktor Bout against his conviction on charges of illicit arms trafficking and set his sentencing for March 12.

On November 2 last year, the jury of the Federal District Court of New York unanimously found Bout, 44, guilty of conspiring to kill U.S. officials and citizens, of acquiring and intending to use anti-aircraft missiles and to providing support to terrorists.

U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin upheld Bout’s guilty verdict on Wednesday but seemed to agree with his lawyer’s demand to hold Bout under less restrictive conditions while he is awaiting sentencing.

Bout’s lawyer Albert Dayan in a letter to the court that his client who is denied the right to walk in the prison yard, has to spend “days and nights” in his solitary cell and is denied “basic, God-given rights, like fresh air and sun.” [more...]

Full story: http://en.rian.ru/wo.../171223700.html

-- en.rian.ru 2012-02-09

[Kilgore Trout]

" Victor Bout has been in solitary confinement for over a year."

Anyone guess why the prison would decide to do that? Seems a bit excessive.

Perhaps he'd prefer a Japanese or Korean prison; I know someone who spent 7 years in a Japanese prison in complete solitary for 7 years.

I agree about missing what he can buy in a Thai prison.

If you can't do the time; don't do the crime.

[flying]

" Victor Bout has been in solitary confinement for over a year."

Anyone guess why the prison would decide to do that? Seems a bit excessive.

His accusers don't like competition & want to set an example

[noitom]

This is a story from a Russian newspaper. Hard to believe that his high profile status is anything but first class in the MCC in New York. So the point of The Nation in reprinting this was what? We can surmise that their motive was to "sell us" on the idea that Thai prison conditions are superior to New York.

[webfact]

This is a story from a Russian newspaper. Hard to believe that his high profile status is anything but first class in the MCC in New York. So the point of The Nation in reprinting this was what? We can surmise that their motive was to "sell us" on the idea that Thai prison conditions are superior to New York.

This story was not reprinted by "The Nation" but reposted by "Thaivisa"

[Langsuan Man]

He is probably in isolation because of the fear that other prisoners might like to make their bones by breaking his

If he gets transferred to Super Max he will get more of the same

[Pib]

"His isolation in a cell is similar to the unbearable conditions of imprisonment of Count Monte Cristo," the lawyer drew an analogy with the literary hero of Alexandre Dumas.

It's called a solitary confimement. Maybe his lawyer should provide a more positive description like "he has a private & quite cell."

[geriatrickid]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/us-judge-questions-prison-conditions-arms-case-15543145

For a more complete account of what went on. It is a claim made by defense counsel.

[OriginalPoster]

" Victor Bout has been in solitary confinement for over a year."

Anyone guess why the prison would decide to do that? Seems a bit excessive.

It's commonly done in terrorism cases and it's a good punishment. People like him don't fear the death penalty but they do fear solitary confinement in Supermax.

[Gers1873]

A prisoner complaining about prison conditions, that must be a first???

Well vik if you cant do the time you shouldnt have done the crime.

[Credo]

I always feel a little bit sorry for people who can give comparative testimonials on various prisons.

[Payboy]

Missing his daily dose of Isaan sausage?

[Mamboking]

Here is no simple answers. How do you know that he is bad guy? From media? Do you really trust media? I believe that in fact nobody care what he's doing, it's only abou business, about competition.

Edited February 9, 2012 by Mamboking

[Reasonableman]

She [the judge] noted that many of the reasons to toss the conspiracy charges, including claims the U.S. had no jurisdiction to try Bout, were the same ones offered when the defense tried to strike them down before trial. But the judge was sympathetic to complaints about the isolated conditions Bout has been held in for more than a year since he was extradited in late 2010 from Thailand to face trial after his arrest there two years earlier. She set a Friday hearing on the issue. "Un-rebutted, it doesn't sound like a good thing," the judge said. "It seems harsh. It seems brutal. It seems unnecessary. It seems like something should be done about it."At the court hearing Wednesday, she read aloud a letter from the defense saying that Bout is held in solitary confinement with no fresh air or sunlight and is allowed only one family visit a week and one phone call a month.

[supaprik]

This is a story from a Russian newspaper. Hard to believe that his high profile status is anything but first class in the MCC in New York. So the point of The Nation in reprinting this was what? We can surmise that their motive was to "sell us" on the idea that Thai prison conditions are superior to New York.

yep, sounds exactly right......Thai is better at everything just ask them!

[vahack]

when the US govt decides to have a war on something (terror, drugs, etc), you should probably avoid it. those crimes carry the biggest penalties and they have a way of forcing the rest of the world to comply. just like anybody with any sense stays away from drugs in Thailand. there's plenty of whiskey to drown yourself in and its legal.

this Russkie sold weapons of terror to druglords. 2 strikes lol

[Reasonableman]

Here is no simple answers. How do you know that he is bad guy? From media? Do you really trust media? I believe that in fact nobody care what he's doing, it's only abou business, about competition.

It looks unlikely he is real nice guy. It appears to be about knowingly selling surface-to-air missiles to insurgents so that they can shoot down helicopters. I guess the country whose nationals are in those helicopters might be justifiably unimpressed. There may indeed be a lot more to the story, but who knows all the details? Not me.

[ableguy]

Here is no simple answers. How do you know that he is bad guy? From media? Do you really trust media? I believe that in fact nobody care what he's doing, it's only abou business, about competition.

Another concpiracy theorist ???? where do you pop up from ?

[tragickingdom]

Very understandable. Thai people are less brain damaged than Americans. On top of that are American prisons actually more psychiatric hospitals and because they are commercial you are considered a product rather than a human. But Americans think otherwise though, they would truly think that they have the best system in the world even the best judicial system and the latter is actually the worst of the worst.

[Reasonableman]

Must agree with another poster, who noted what an amazing fund of knowledge (and experience?) of international prison conditions we have here.

[RadKiter]

the prisons in the USA are barbaric and not much different than they were 150 years ago. Really says something about how unenlightened America is compared to Europe. Further, anyone accused and tried in the USA is guilty until proven innocent. Only morons unfamiliar with the system are allowed on the jury so the prosecutors and politically dependent judges can convict most anyone whether they are guilty or not. And that's dam_n right the US Government doesn't want any competition in the arms or terrorism industry. We're number 1 in the most disgusting.

[gemini81]

Very understandable. Thai people are less brain damaged than Americans. On top of that are American prisons actually more psychiatric hospitals and because they are commercial you are considered a product rather than a human. But Americans think otherwise though, they would truly think that they have the best system in the world even the best judicial system and the latter is actually the worst of the worst.

How are you the expert on all prison and judicial systems? One would only know through experience/job position/tours of all of the above. You're making a lot of generalizations based on your negative opinions. No where do I see anyone claiming "oh what a great prison system we have." Jails in the US are admittedly overcrowded as well, as officials say.

Maybe "brain damage" is your metaphor, but literally, brain damage is far greater here due to accidents.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

For a poor person, US jails would seem luxurious compared to Thailand, but not so much for the rich.

" Victor Bout has been in solitary confinement for over a year."

Anyone guess why the prison would decide to do that? Seems a bit excessive.

Note that over fifty thousand prisoners in the US are routinely held in long-term solitary confinement. If a rich street-smart guy like Victor were out in the general population, he'd most likely be running major criminal operations within months, not to mention building up his connections for future career options.

Excellent recent article here - between the death penalty, the war on drugs and racism, this is one area where the US is very much at the lower end of "development" in a moral/spiritual sense. Along with income inequality, corporate control of the body politic and abolishing the concept of peacetime. . .

[BigJohnnyBKK]

just like anybody with any sense stays away from drugs in Thailand

Which Thailand do you live in? As long as you're buying from officially approved channel's it's perfectly safe, just a bit more expensive. I've got a good friend living upcountry who gets his wholesale for all his friends direct from the local chief of police at a very reasonable price, just treats him to freebies at his wife's soapie a couple of times a month.

It's getting involved in the business side of things competing against the BiB that'll get you into trouble, not being a good customer. . .

[IAMHERE]

So basically he didn't co-operate with the CIA. Sold arms to the undocumeted fellas so to speak.

[newermonkey]

This must be a warning to the Thai authorities to toughen up the prison system here. For Thais who grew up in slums or in a poor village, prison is seen as a cushy luxury and a sort of fun holiday home a bit like a working class club med!

[sparebox2]

He is an arm dealer. For his crime, he deserve to be hang actually.