Russian pianist suspected of child rape leaves Thailand

Jul 8, 2010, 8:49 GMT

Bangkok - Russian pianist Mikhail Pletnev left Thailand for Dubai early Thursday despite facing charges of raping a 14-year-old boy, airline officials said.

'He was a passenger on the flight for Dubai, where he was scheduled to fly on to Moscow,' an official for Emirates Airline said in Bangkok.

Pletnev - a world-renowned pianist, composer and founder of the Russian National Orchestra - was arrested Monday in Pattaya, a Thai beach resort 100 kilometres south-east of Bangkok, on charges of raping the Thai boy. He was released Tuesday on bail of 300,000 baht (9,375 dollars).

It was not clear whether Pletnev had jumped bail.

'I'm very sure he won't come back to Thailand,' said Supagon Noja, a spokeswoman for the Child Rights Protection Group in Chonburi province, where Pattaya is located.

A Pattaya Court official said Wednesday that Pletnev had been barred from leaving the country prior to his trial, raising questions as to why Thai immigration authorities permitted him to depart Thursday morning.

Police and court officials refused to comment Thursday on Pletnev's departure.

The musician claimed he was innocent. If found guilty of raping a minor, Pletnev faced up to 20 years in jail.

Pletnev was a frequent visitor to Pattaya, where he owned several houses and set up a music school, police said.

According to Pattaya-based child-protection 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.'