Judge won't extridite (sic) alleged arms dealer

Published: Aug. 11, 2009 at 8:58 AM

BANGKOK, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A judge in Thailand Tuesday rejected a U.S. request to extradite Viktor Bout, a Russian businessman and suspected arms trafficker.

Bout was arrested in March 2008 in a Bangkok hotel after allegedly agreeing to sell millions of dollars worth of arms to U.S. agents posing as rebels with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia.

The extradition request accused Bout, whose activities inspired the Hollywood movie, "The Lord of War," of conspiring to kill U.S. citizens, and a federal indictment characterized him as an international arms dealer who used a network of cargo companies as cover, The New York Times reported.

The indictment accused Bout of telling the agents he could deliver between 700 and 800 surface-to-air missiles, 5,000 AK-47 assault weapons, ammunition, land mines, C-4 explosives and unmanned aircraft.

In turning down the request, Judge Jitakorn Patanasiri said Bout's "guilt cannot be determined in Thailand."

The Times said it was unclear whether the ruling would be appealed or if Bout could be released.

Bout has denied any ties to arms trafficking. In arguing against extradition, Bout's attorney said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration violated Thai law by apprehending him before calling in the Thai police and that the undercover agents were carrying firearms, a breach of Thai law.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/08/11/ ... 249995489/