ID :
145052
Wed, 10/06/2010 - 14:48
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http://m.oananews.org//node/145052
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Thai PM: Russia 'unsatisfied' over Viktor Bout case
BRUSSELS, Oct 6 - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday conceded Russia was unsatisfied with the Thai court's ruling to drop money laundering and fraud charges against alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, while pledging his government will do its best to minimise the impact on international relations.
The Thai premier made the remarks as he was attending the Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels between October 3-8 and met Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines.
Mr Abhisit said he has informed the Russian foreign minister of the Thai court's decision to drop money laundering and fraud charges against Mr Bout on grounds of insufficient evidence and that the Russian will be free within three days.
"I have informed [the Russian foreign minister] about Thai law and criminal procedures," said Mr Abhisit. "Russia is not satisfied with what has happened, but not at Thailand, as it understands that Thailand made its decision in accordance with Thai law and bearing in mind international relations."
The next step, the Thai premier said, he has to wait and see whether or not the United States will appeal the ruling and whether the procedure will last longer than November 20, the deadline for Mr Bout's extradition to the US under the court ruling on the first case of arms trading.
Mr Abhisit said if the case is not finalised, the court approval is needed to extend the extradition deadline beyond three months.
"The government will do it best to minimise its impact on international relations," Mr Abhisit assured. "When it's time that the executive power must make a decision, the case will be brought up in the Cabinet for a final decision, not on behalf of the Thai prime minister."
"I and my government are duty-bound to be responsible for the case. If I can choose, no one wants to be in this situation," said the premier.
Mr Abhisit said he will have chance to meet both the US and Russian leaders at international forums, such as the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Vietnam, the meeting Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Japan and the G-20 Summit in South Korea at the year end.
The Thai prime minister said he hoped to have an opportunity to talk and create better understanding with leaders of the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Russian foreign minister warned Washington against meddling with Mr Bout's case and said that Russia is counting on the Thai judiciary's independence in the case.
"We have no intention of interfering in the affairs of (Thai) justice and we are counting on the fact that others will not try to influence it," the Agence France Presse (AFP) news agency quoted Mr Lavrov as telling Russian news agencies.
"The idea that Russia and the United States have reached some sort of agreement is outside the pale of the system of justice."
The Thai Criminal Court on Monday dropped a Thai prosecutor's request to withdraw the second charges on money laundering and wire fraud against Russian businessman described as elusive by some and dubbed "The Merchant of Death".
The judges explained since Thai extradition law did not stipulate anything about dropping legal procedures, therefore the court must 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.
The 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 process to extradite Mr Bout was stalled because after the lower court rejected the request, Washington filed a second set of charges to ensure he would not set free. The US has since tried to drop those charges, but the Bangkok Criminal Court said Monday the legal proceedings must proceed.
The court on Tuesday however dropped the second charges against Mr Bout due to a lack of evidence and the defendant must be released within 72 hours unless the prosecutors wanted to appeal-- which could be done within 30 days.
The final decision on whether to send him to the US was up to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva who said earlier that his government was awaiting a court decision on Mr Bout’s second case before making any final decision on his extradition to the US which asked Thailand to facilitate the transfer. (MCOT online news)
The Thai premier made the remarks as he was attending the Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels between October 3-8 and met Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines.
Mr Abhisit said he has informed the Russian foreign minister of the Thai court's decision to drop money laundering and fraud charges against Mr Bout on grounds of insufficient evidence and that the Russian will be free within three days.
"I have informed [the Russian foreign minister] about Thai law and criminal procedures," said Mr Abhisit. "Russia is not satisfied with what has happened, but not at Thailand, as it understands that Thailand made its decision in accordance with Thai law and bearing in mind international relations."
The next step, the Thai premier said, he has to wait and see whether or not the United States will appeal the ruling and whether the procedure will last longer than November 20, the deadline for Mr Bout's extradition to the US under the court ruling on the first case of arms trading.
Mr Abhisit said if the case is not finalised, the court approval is needed to extend the extradition deadline beyond three months.
"The government will do it best to minimise its impact on international relations," Mr Abhisit assured. "When it's time that the executive power must make a decision, the case will be brought up in the Cabinet for a final decision, not on behalf of the Thai prime minister."
"I and my government are duty-bound to be responsible for the case. If I can choose, no one wants to be in this situation," said the premier.
Mr Abhisit said he will have chance to meet both the US and Russian leaders at international forums, such as the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Vietnam, the meeting Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Japan and the G-20 Summit in South Korea at the year end.
The Thai prime minister said he hoped to have an opportunity to talk and create better understanding with leaders of the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Russian foreign minister warned Washington against meddling with Mr Bout's case and said that Russia is counting on the Thai judiciary's independence in the case.
"We have no intention of interfering in the affairs of (Thai) justice and we are counting on the fact that others will not try to influence it," the Agence France Presse (AFP) news agency quoted Mr Lavrov as telling Russian news agencies.
"The idea that Russia and the United States have reached some sort of agreement is outside the pale of the system of justice."
The Thai Criminal Court on Monday dropped a Thai prosecutor's request to withdraw the second charges on money laundering and wire fraud against Russian businessman described as elusive by some and dubbed "The Merchant of Death".
The judges explained since Thai extradition law did not stipulate anything about dropping legal procedures, therefore the court must 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.
The 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 process to extradite Mr Bout was stalled because after the lower court rejected the request, Washington filed a second set of charges to ensure he would not set free. The US has since tried to drop those charges, but the Bangkok Criminal Court said Monday the legal proceedings must proceed.
The court on Tuesday however dropped the second charges against Mr Bout due to a lack of evidence and the defendant must be released within 72 hours unless the prosecutors wanted to appeal-- which could be done within 30 days.
The final decision on whether to send him to the US was up to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva who said earlier that his government was awaiting a court decision on Mr Bout’s second case before making any final decision on his extradition to the US which asked Thailand to facilitate the transfer. (MCOT online news)
