Viktor Bout taken to Bangkok court in tightened security measures

BANGKOK, October 4 (Itar-Tass) - Russian businessman Viktor Bout on
Monday was transported to the Bangkok Criminal Court in the conditions of
unprecedented security measures. Unlike the previous court hearings when
it was possible to talk to the defendant, now he was placed in a separate
remote room. Besides, the guards put on the Russian citizen an armour vest
for security considerations.
In the run-up to the beginning of the first hearing on new US charges
against the businessman, his wife Alla Bout told journalists that "the
lawyers intend to appeal against the withdrawal of new charges in order to
prove by the example of new proceedings the unlawfulness of the decision
on the Russian citizen's extradition to the United States made by the
court of appeal." "I hope that now it is absolutely clear to everyone that
the case is absolutely political," she continued. "Now I am absolutely not
afraid to say that the conclusions of the court of appeal were simply
forced upon it, and the court exceeded its authority."
Besides, Alla Bout told journalists that the "Americans continue to
exert pressure on Thailand and an American aircraft carrier staying at
anchorage at the kingdom's port is an illustration to that." "In my view,
this call of the ship is another demonstration of force and pressure in
the kingdom," Alla Bout noted. "I do not rule out that they could simply
close my husband somewhere and literally by force shake all the necessary
signatures under documents from him," she added. "I hope for the support
of Russia that will protect my husband, and also pip hope on the
government of Thailand that will after all make a just decision and will
give him a possibility to return home."
Viktor Bout was detained in Bangkok in March 2008 on a US request. The
United States accuses the businessman of illegal trade in weapons, as well
as charges him with a number of crimes. No evidence of Bout's guilt was
presented to the Thai court during two years. On August 20, the court made
a decision to extradite the Russian based on the fact that his case "has
no relation to politics, and the evidence materials, as the plaintiff
claims, is in the US territory." This verdict cased a sharp reaction of
Moscow and the RF Foreign Ministry called this decision of the highest
instance on extradition cases "politically motivated and non-objective."
Royal Thai Police arrested Bout in Bangkok on 6 March 2008, the
culmination of a sting operation set up by US Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) agents. Bout allegedly offered to supply weapons to
people he thought were representatives of the Colombian Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels.
After months of delay, a Bangkok criminal court began an extradition
hearing for Bout on 22 September 2008. In February 2009, members of the
United States Congress signed a letter to Attorney General Holder and
Secretary of State (i.e. Foreign Secretary) Clinton that expressed their
wish that the Bout extradition "remain a top priority."
On 11 August 2009 the Bangkok Criminal Court ruled in his favour,
denying the US request for extradition. The US appealed that judgement and on 20 August 2010 a higher Thai court ruled that Bout could, in fact, be extradited to the United States.