Thai court rules not to extradite Russian arms dealer to U.S.
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Thai Criminal Court ruled Monday afternoon that the second case against Viktor Bout, the alleged Russian arms smuggler, will be proceeded, rejecting the decision of the Appeals Court in August to extradite him to stand trial in the United States.
Viktor Bout was, dubbed "The Merchant of Death", additionally charged by the U.S. with money laundering and wire fraud case shortly prior to Appeals Court's ruling on the first case on Aug. 20 to make sure Thailand continued to detain Bout.
However, the U.S. later submitted application via Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking the Office of Attorney General to drop the second case after the Court of Appeals decided to extradite Bout to stand trial in the U.S. within three months.
The 43-year-old Bout was arrested in a U.S.-led sting operation in Bangkok in 2008.
The Bangkok Criminal Court in 2009 rejected the U.S. extradition request, shocking U.S. prosecutors, who appealed the decision.
The Appeals Court, however, ruled in August that Bout could be extradited to the U.S. to face charges of conspiracy to kill Americans, conspiracy to kill officials and employees of the U.S. government, conspiracy to acquire and use anti-aircraft missiles and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. Bout could face maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
The Appeals Court's decision drew fierce reaction from the Russian government condemning the decision is unjust and obviously political case.
