VIKTOR BOUT CASE
KING-OUA LAOHONG AND WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM
Thai authorities have no grounds to keep suspected arms dealer Viktor Bout in custody after the Criminal Court threw out terrorism charges against him, according to his lawyer.
The former Soviet army major, whose exploits are said to have been the inspiration for the 2005 Hollywood movie Lord of War, starring Nicolas Cage, is fighting the detention and a US request for his extradition to stand trial on terrorism charges in the States.
Preecha Prasertsak, who has been appointed to challenge Mr Bout's detention, said he has evidence that US and Thai authorities issued the arrest warrant in advance and the arrest was arranged by US authorities - a practice deemed to violate Thai sovereignty.
Mr Bout was arrested on March 6 in the Sofitel hotel on Silom road in a US-led sting operation that allegedly caught him making a deal to supply guns to rebels in Colombia.
The operation involved officers from the Crime Suppression Division and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
But the Criminal Court dismissed the charges due to lack of evidence.
On Mr Bout's extradition, Mr Preecha said his client has another team of lawyers to represent him.
The next hearing is set for Friday.
Mr Bout faces charges in the US of attempting to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), which is designated a terrorist organisation by the US Justice Department.
Mr Preecha said that Mr Bout has also lodged a petition against the use of an American interpreter in court hearings on grounds of a conflict of interest.
The Criminal court is expected to hear the petition on Friday, said the lawyer.
Pol Col Petchrat Saengchai, CSD deputy commander, said yesterday that Mr Bout's arrest was in accordance with legal procedures.
He also said that Thai police have nothing to do with the extradition case, noting it is a dispute between Mr Bout and the US authorities.
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