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Russian suspected child-abuse pianist back in Thailand

Jul 17, 2010, 19:51 GMT

Moscow - A Russian pianist charged with raping a 14- year-old boy in Thailand returned to the South-East Asian country on Saturday, his spokeswoman said. Mikhail Pletnev flew back from Moscow, where he was allowed to return on July 8 for a concert after promising Thai authorities he would come back to resolve matters. The 53-year-old concert pianist denied the charges against him, Pletnev's spokeswoman Svetlana Shaplygina told the Russian news agency Interfax. Pletnev - a renowned pianist, composer and founder of the Russian National Orchestra - was arrested on July 5 in Pattaya, a beach resort 100 kilometres south-east of Bangkok, on charges of raping the Thai boy. He was released the following day on bail of 300,000 baht (9,375 dollars). Pattaya court, which initially barred Pletnev from leaving the country, later agreed to his lawyers' request that he could travel to Russia on condition he return by July 18.

Europe News

Russian suspected child-abuse pianist back in Thailand

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