Saxena Loses Canada Extradition Appeal

Bloomberg reported that the Supreme Court Thursday denied Saxena's request for a hearing at which he would have tried to overturn a lower- court decision upholding the extradition.

The high court gave no reason for its decision, Bloomberg said.

Saxena, 57, fled to Canada in May 1996 shortly after the government seized the Bangkok Bank of Commerce Plc to stop a run on deposits triggered by a central bank report that about 78 billion baht ($3.1 billion at the time) of the bank's loans were delinquent. Many of the loans were extended to top executives, their families and friends and politicians, the report said.

The Vancouver Sun reported that Saxena may be taken by Canadian police to Vancouver airport, perhaps as early as today, and be handed over to Thai officials.