ID :
139700
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 16:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/139700
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PM Abhisit: Extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer must accord with judicial process
BANGKOK, Aug 28 (TNA) -- Emphasising that he did not know details of the discussion between his close aide and imprisoned alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva reiterated Saturday the extradition of the suspect to face charges in the US would depend upon the Thai judicial process.
Mr Abhisit’s remarks were made after Mr Bout’s wife, Alla, read her husband's message Friday during a press conference, held at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, in which he again said he was innocent and that he had held discussions with Sirichoke Sopha, a Democrat MP for the southern province of Songkhla and a close aide to Mr Abhisit.
On Wednesday, Mr Sirichoke admitted having visited Mr Bout at the Bangkok Remand Prison in April, but denied he tried to persuade the Russian to implicate fugitive and ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in arms dealing.
Mr Abhisit said Mr Sirichoke made the visit and talked with Mr Bout in his capacity as a member of the Thai parliament. The prime minister said that his government would handle everything concerning Mr Bout in accordance with the Thai judicial system and international agreements made between the kingdom and foreign countries.
He said the case is quite complicated, and that Thailand wants to resolve a second case, filed by the US earlier against Mr Bout, before the process could proceed.
Mr Bout is facing a second case concerning money laundering and wire fraud charges which has been accepted by the Court of First Instance and that the US government has submitted a request that these charges be withdrawn in order to start the extradition process.
Mr Abhisit has said the second case would also be at the court's discretion, if the court does not allow the case to be withdrawn, Mr Bout would have to remain in Thailand until the legal procedures finish.
The Thai foreign ministry has received the US government's request to withdraw the second case with the first hearing set for October 4, he said earlier.
As the second case is still pending in a Thai court, Thailand cannot extradite Mr Bout to the US to face charges there, Mr Abhisit said.
The Thai Court of Appeals ruled on August 20 to extradite Mr Bout, dubbed as the 'Merchant of Death', to the US to face charges of conspiracy to kill US nationals, conspiracy to kill officers and American employees, conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.
The ruling of the Thai Court of Appeals to extradite Mr Bout overturned a lower court's ruling in August 2009 that rejected a US request that Mr Bout face trial there.
As Friday’s statement read by Mrs Bout on her husband’s behalf was somehow directed at Washington, Mr Abhisit said he had ordered the foreign ministry to persuade both the US and Russia to hold talks with each other and find out the solution because “Thailand is in the middle and gains nothing” from the controversy. (MCOT online news)
Mr Abhisit’s remarks were made after Mr Bout’s wife, Alla, read her husband's message Friday during a press conference, held at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, in which he again said he was innocent and that he had held discussions with Sirichoke Sopha, a Democrat MP for the southern province of Songkhla and a close aide to Mr Abhisit.
On Wednesday, Mr Sirichoke admitted having visited Mr Bout at the Bangkok Remand Prison in April, but denied he tried to persuade the Russian to implicate fugitive and ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in arms dealing.
Mr Abhisit said Mr Sirichoke made the visit and talked with Mr Bout in his capacity as a member of the Thai parliament. The prime minister said that his government would handle everything concerning Mr Bout in accordance with the Thai judicial system and international agreements made between the kingdom and foreign countries.
He said the case is quite complicated, and that Thailand wants to resolve a second case, filed by the US earlier against Mr Bout, before the process could proceed.
Mr Bout is facing a second case concerning money laundering and wire fraud charges which has been accepted by the Court of First Instance and that the US government has submitted a request that these charges be withdrawn in order to start the extradition process.
Mr Abhisit has said the second case would also be at the court's discretion, if the court does not allow the case to be withdrawn, Mr Bout would have to remain in Thailand until the legal procedures finish.
The Thai foreign ministry has received the US government's request to withdraw the second case with the first hearing set for October 4, he said earlier.
As the second case is still pending in a Thai court, Thailand cannot extradite Mr Bout to the US to face charges there, Mr Abhisit said.
The Thai Court of Appeals ruled on August 20 to extradite Mr Bout, dubbed as the 'Merchant of Death', to the US to face charges of conspiracy to kill US nationals, conspiracy to kill officers and American employees, conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.
The ruling of the Thai Court of Appeals to extradite Mr Bout overturned a lower court's ruling in August 2009 that rejected a US request that Mr Bout face trial there.
As Friday’s statement read by Mrs Bout on her husband’s behalf was somehow directed at Washington, Mr Abhisit said he had ordered the foreign ministry to persuade both the US and Russia to hold talks with each other and find out the solution because “Thailand is in the middle and gains nothing” from the controversy. (MCOT online news)
