PM defers to courts in Bout row

The premier said it was important a court decision over a US indictment against Bout over money-laundering be processed and decided upon.

"The judicial process over the matter should be completed. I am not sure about how the court would further handle the case," Abhisit said. "I need to check out on what factors the court would rely on in further handling it, and what factors the executive would take into consideration," he said.

An Appeals Court ruled two weeks ago that Bout be extradited to the US within 90 days, but the additional US indictment against him over money-laundering prolonged the process, as the Criminal Court set October 4 to hear the indictment and his plea.

Through his Thai lawyer, Bout submitted a written request to Abhisit asking him to make a decision not to extradite him to the US, citing his concerns over his welfare and safety in US custody.

Asked if he would allow Bout to meet him in person, as requested through Bout's lawyer, Abhisit said: "I need to see and read through his written statement, to see what problems he may have."

Referring to Foreign Ministry mediation in Russia-US direct talks over Bout's extradition, Abhisit said the process would take time as it involved many confusing details, especially "over angles regarding Thai politics that have been inaccurately reported." He did not elaborate.

The Office of the Attorney-General is waiting for an official US request that the additional money-laundering charges against the Russian be withdrawn, a senior prosecutor said yesterday.

Sirisak Tiyaphan, prosecutor-general of the OAG's International Affairs Department, said the OAG and the Foreign Ministry would discuss the withdrawal request once the document was received by Thai authorities.

Bout's lawyer, Lak Nitiwatwijarn, said Bout would challenge the US request against the money-laundering charge and he complained of the "unfair indictments" against his client.

Lak repeated his statement that no government representative had struck a deal with Bout in return for inside information from him.

Meanwhile, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to the foreign minister, said Thailand was following all protocols regarding the Bout affair, and that diplomats from both the US and Russia had met in a Thai-mediated meeting on August 26.

"Both countries' representatives met privately and have been working on the matter," he said, adding that neither side discussed a much-heralded news report involving the role of Democrat MP Sirichoke Sopha.

Thailand on Monday asked the United States and Russia to respect its justice system, its integrity and procedures involving the Thai Court's ruling to extradite Viktor Bout, known as the Merchant of Death.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who was in Montenegro's capital city of Podgorica, said neither country should have used Thailand as a venue for the debate.

"The US and Russia should not have put pressure on Thailand concerning Bout's extradition. We are not taking any sides on the matter. We are following our justice system and procedure. They are also democratic countries and should respect our system as we do theirs," the minister said.

The minister was responding to reports the US and Russia put pressure on Thailand after an Appeal Court ruled in favour of the US to extradite Bout who is wanted there on arms smuggling charges.

The Russian government criticised Thailand for taking sides with the US. However the extradition has not taken place as a Thai court must consider the US' latest request to withdraw the charges of fraud and money-laundering against Bout.

The US has dispatched a plane and US marshals to pick up Bout, but they must wait pending the court's decision on the charge withdrawal.

Kasit said that sending the plane and officers was not appropriate in Thailand's view as the US should have waited until the procedure was settled officially.

"The US should have shown more respect for our justice system," he said.