Russian pianist Mikhail Pletnev left Thailand for Dubai early yesterday despite charges of raping a 14yearold boy that require him to return within 12 days, officials said.
Pletnev - a renowned pianist, composer and founder of the Russian National Orchestra - was arrested on Monday in Pattaya, on charges of raping the Thai boy.
He was released on Tuesday on bail of Bt300,000 and ordered to report to the court every 12 days.
A Pattaya court, which initially barred Pletnev from leaving the country, later agreed to his lawyers' request that he could leave on the condition he return by July 18, police said.
"This is a very strange case," Pattaya Immigration Pol Colonel Arthitsawit Kamonrat said - odd that police at Bang Lamung district, where Pletnev was arrested, did not object to his request for bail and permission to leave the country.
"We expect him to come back given that he is famous and that he claims that he is innocent. And since he has hired a legal team, we expect him to come back to fight the case," Pol Lt Colonel Omsin Sukkanka said.
Interfax and other Russian media reported that Pletnev wasscheduled to conduct in Ohrid, Macedonia, on July 12.
Pletnev, a parttime resident in Pattaya where he owned several houses, has been under investigation for child abuse by police and children rights groups for months, police said. A 14yearold Thai boy was willing to testify that Pletnev abused him, police said.
"I'm very sure he won't come back to Thailand," said Supagon Noja, a spokeswoman for the Child Rights Protection Group in Chon Buri province.
The musician claimed he was innocent and the charges were the result of a misunderstanding. If found guilty of raping a minor, he faces up to 20 years in jail.
According to Pattayabased childprotection groups, the pianist had a history of child abuse at the resort, which is notorious for its nightlife and prostitution.
"We've been working on his case with the police for a long time now and finally had him arrested," Supagon said, "and he's gotten away so easily."