Police escort international arms dealer Viktor Bout as he arrives at the Bangkok Criminal Court March 8, 2008.
Photo: Reuters
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Russia’s Arms Baron Suspected of Assisting Terrorists
The U.S. authorities suspect Russia’s Viktor Bout of assisting terrorists. International arms dealer Bout that was arrested in Thailand is suspected under the terror-related clause of the U.S. Criminal Code, said the detainee’s lawyer Yan Dasgupta.
The arms trade hasn’t been mentioned, Dasgupta said, specifying that the accusation hasn’t been presented to his client yet. No extradition request has been filed to the Thai court so far, according to defense.
Viktor Bout, who was dubbed the “Merchant of Death” of the clandestine arms trade, was arrested in one of Bangkok hotels March 6, 2008 as a result of the effort of U.S. detectives.
Bout was interrogated only once, on the day of arrest, his lawyer said, specifying that the court extended detention by 12 days yesterday and the procedure would probably repeat for 84 days of the day of his arrest. Bout should be released if no charges are presented by then, the lawyer said.
Asked whether the accounts of Bout’s companies were frozen, the lawyer said the respective actions were taken but he didn’t know the details. The lawyers will again go to the court, seeking to change a measure of restraint and release Viktor Bout on bail, Dasgupta reiterated.
According to media reports, the United States filed an official request to the Thai Foreign Ministry on Viktor Bout’s extradition.
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