Sunday, July 27, 2008

For The Second Time, Thai Court Delays 'Merchant of Death' Extradition Hearing

Viktor Bout -- currently imprisoned in Thailand awaiting U.S extradition.


An AP newswire article by Ambika Ahuja, via The Boston Globe, reports that:

A Thai court delayed for the second time an extradition hearing for an alleged Russian arms smuggler after his new defense attorney failed to show up on Monday.

Viktor Bout has been indicted in the U.S. on four terrorism charges. He is regarded as one of the world's most wanted arms traffickers, though he denies any involvement in illicit activities.

Bout was led into Bangkok's Criminal Court barefoot and shackled for a morning hearing that ended abruptly because his main defense lawyer, whose name was not immediately available, was not present.

The lawyer "says he has another case. The court deems that it is necessary to postpone," Judge Jitakorn Patanasiri told the court. The judge set the new date for Sept. 22.

The hearing, originally set for June 9, was delayed the first time because Bout's other attorney, Lak Nitiwatanavichan, said he had heart problems.

More here.

Image source: Foreign Policy Passport Blog

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