Thailand refuses to extradite 'Merchant of Death'

Writer: AFP

Published: 11/08/2009 at 04:00 PM

A Thai court on Tuesday rejected a request by the United States for the extradition of Viktor Bout, an alleged Russian arms dealer dubbed the "Merchant of Death".

Alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, dubbed the "Merchant of Death", is seen sitting behind bars at a Bangkok court in May. A Thai court has rejected a request by the United States for the extradition of Bout.

"The court has agreed to dismiss the case," judge Jitakorn Patanasiri said in a surprise decision that comes almost a year-and-a-half after Bout, 42, was arrested in a sting operation at a Bangkok hotel.

“His guilt cannot be determined in Thailand,” said the judge.

Bout, who is said to have inspired the Hollywood film "Lord of War" starring Nicolas Cage, was held on charges that he peddled weapons, including to Al-Qaeda, that were used in some of the world's most violent conflicts.

The United States was "disappointed and mystified" by the court's decision, a senior US diplomat said,

"We are disappointed and mystified by the court's ruling. We think the facts of the case are relevant to Thai laws," James Entwistle, the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Bangkok, told reporters.

The court said that it did not have the authority to punish "actions done by foreigners against other foreigners in another country".

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