ID :
150108
Tue, 11/16/2010 - 16:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/150108
The shortlink copeid
Thailand extradites alleged Russian arms trafficker to US
BANGKOK, Nov 16 - Russian businessman Viktor Bout, described as elusive by some and dubbed "The Merchant of Death" by others, was extradited to the United States on Tuesday after the Thai Cabinet acknowledged the extradition and had no objection to the court decision.
Mr Bout was escorted by police commandos from Thailand's Crime Suppression Division as he was taken from the Bang Kwang Prison in Nonthaburi province to the Thai Air Force airport at Don Mueang Tuesday afternoon.
Security measures have been tightened to the highest level. Media have not been allowed to cover the event inside the airport compound.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva informed the Cabinet Tuesday morning that Thailand would extradite Mr Bout to the US as requested. The Cabinet did not object to the move.
The alleged arms dealer boarded a special US aircraft at 1.30pm. Media witnessed his wife, Alla Bout, in a Russian embassy car half an hour later after Mr Bout left Thailand.
Viktor Burobin, Mr Bout's lawyer, told the Interfax news agency that Thailand's decision to extradite his client is illegal because the Thai court never reviewed the second US extradition request concerning Mr Bout.
"If this administrative decision is carried out and Bout is delivered to the United States, it will be impossible to either overturn or appeal," Mr Burobin told the Russian news agency.
The Court of Appeals ruled on Aug 20 to extradite Mr Bout, arrested in Bangkok in March 2008 and detained since then, to the US to face charges of conspiracy to kill Americans, conspiracy to kill officials and employees of the US government, conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organisation.
The court said the extradition must be done within 90 days, or before Nov 19.
The ruling of the Thai Court of Appeals to extradite Mr Bout overturned a lower court ruling in Aug 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 later tried to drop those charges, but the Bangkok Criminal Court on Oct 4 dropped a Thai prosecutor's request to withdraw the second charges on money laundering and wire fraud against Mr Bout, saying that the legal proceedings must proceed since Thai extradition law did not stipulate anything about dropping legal procedures.
The court later, however, dropped the second charges against Mr Bout due to a lack of evidence.
A 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer, Mr Bout has denied any involvement in illicit activities including arms trafficking to conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East. He claims he ran a legitimate business.
His arrest at a Bangkok luxury hotel in March 2008 was part of an elaborate sting in which US agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which the US government classifies as a terrorist organisation.
Mr Bout was subsequently indicted in the US on four terrorism-related charges that include conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to FARC. (MCOT online news)
Mr Bout was escorted by police commandos from Thailand's Crime Suppression Division as he was taken from the Bang Kwang Prison in Nonthaburi province to the Thai Air Force airport at Don Mueang Tuesday afternoon.
Security measures have been tightened to the highest level. Media have not been allowed to cover the event inside the airport compound.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva informed the Cabinet Tuesday morning that Thailand would extradite Mr Bout to the US as requested. The Cabinet did not object to the move.
The alleged arms dealer boarded a special US aircraft at 1.30pm. Media witnessed his wife, Alla Bout, in a Russian embassy car half an hour later after Mr Bout left Thailand.
Viktor Burobin, Mr Bout's lawyer, told the Interfax news agency that Thailand's decision to extradite his client is illegal because the Thai court never reviewed the second US extradition request concerning Mr Bout.
"If this administrative decision is carried out and Bout is delivered to the United States, it will be impossible to either overturn or appeal," Mr Burobin told the Russian news agency.
The Court of Appeals ruled on Aug 20 to extradite Mr Bout, arrested in Bangkok in March 2008 and detained since then, to the US to face charges of conspiracy to kill Americans, conspiracy to kill officials and employees of the US government, conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organisation.
The court said the extradition must be done within 90 days, or before Nov 19.
The ruling of the Thai Court of Appeals to extradite Mr Bout overturned a lower court ruling in Aug 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 later tried to drop those charges, but the Bangkok Criminal Court on Oct 4 dropped a Thai prosecutor's request to withdraw the second charges on money laundering and wire fraud against Mr Bout, saying that the legal proceedings must proceed since Thai extradition law did not stipulate anything about dropping legal procedures.
The court later, however, dropped the second charges against Mr Bout due to a lack of evidence.
A 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer, Mr Bout has denied any involvement in illicit activities including arms trafficking to conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East. He claims he ran a legitimate business.
His arrest at a Bangkok luxury hotel in March 2008 was part of an elaborate sting in which US agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which the US government classifies as a terrorist organisation.
Mr Bout was subsequently indicted in the US on four terrorism-related charges that include conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to FARC. (MCOT online news)
