Russian famous musician returns to Thailand to stand trial

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18/7 Tass 49

HANOI, July 18 (Itar-Tass) - World famous Russian pianist and
conductor Mikhail Pletnev has returned to Thailand to continue participate
in the investigation of accusations, put forth by a local court, of his
complicity in seducing minors.
Head of the consular department at the Russian embassy in Thailand
Andrei Dvornikov confirmed Itar-Tass on Sunday that the musician arrived
in Thailand on Saturday.
According to the consular department head, Pletnev has not turned to
the Russian embassy in Bangkok for any help since his return to the
country. The diplomat emphasised that staffers of the embassy as well as
of the office of the Russian honorary consul in Pattaya are ready any time
to render the Russian pianist all necessary legal and consular support.
The resounding scandal around the musician flared up early in June in
the Thai resort city of Pattaya where Pletnev lived. Thai law enforcement
bodies put forth against the pianist charges with seducing a 14-year
minor on the grounds of testimonies of several local residents, detained
earlier for paedophilia and production of child pornography.
Pletnev spurned down all suspicions against him and claimed that his
ill-wishers had raised ballyhoo around his name. The musician said that he
does not intend to hide from justice and expressed firm conviction that
the court would examine objectively this "outrageous misunderstanding".
Despite the serious accusations, levelled against the conductor,
according to which he can be put behind bars, under Thai laws, up to 20
years, the court permitted Pletnev to leave Thailand on July 8 and to go
on guest performances of the Russian National Orchestra (RNO) he heads, on
the condition that he returns to the kingdom by July 18.
It is precisely on this day that Pletnev is to come to the court to
confirm his presence in the country. The RNO leader is to repeat this
procedure every 12 days, while the investigation lasts. This is to
continue no more than six times. Then the court will decide the question
on a further measure of restraint if the investigation is not fully
completed by that time.
-0-bur/usn