Alleged arms dealer could be extradited after Thailand drops charge

Oct 5, 2010, 10:41 GMT

Bangkok - A Thai criminal court Tuesday dropped charges of money laundering and wire fraud against Russian suspected arms merchant Viktor Bout, clearing a major obstacle to his extradition to the United States where he faces terrorism charges.

The court ruled the case lacked enough evidence to proceed.

Bout was arrested in a US-led sting operation in Bangkok in 2008. He has been at the centre of legal maneuvering between the Russian government, which says he is the victim of persecution, and the US, which sees him as a kingpin in the illegal international arms trade.

Bout's lawyer, Lak Nithiwatanawichan, told reporters after Tuesday's ruling that the legal battle was far from over.

'If anyone tries to send him out, I will file a motion (to stop it),' Lak said.

Bout's legal situation has been precarious since August 20, when a Thai court cleared the way for his extradition to the US.

But additional charges of money laundering and wire fraud delayed the extradition proceedings.

Last week, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he would likely make the final decision on whether to allow Bout's extradition.

Bout, 43, a former Soviet air force officer, denied allegations that he supplied illegal arms to buyers in Africa, South America and the Middle East.

His arrest was the climax of a sting operation by US agents posing as weapons buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which the US government considers a terrorist organization.

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