A suspected Russian arms dealer was back in court in Thailand Monday. Viktor Bout is facing new charges which could interfere with an earlier ruling allowing his extradition to the U.S.
Suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout arrived at Bangkok's criminal court Monday under heavy security.
The man dubbed the "Merchant of Death" was at the court for a hearing on a second case lodged against him by the U.S.
Bout was arrested in a Bangkok hotel in a Thai-American sting operation after arriving from Moscow in March last year.
The case and the petition raise fresh doubts on whether Bout would be brought to trial at all.
Bout faces U.S. accusations of trafficking arms since the 1990s to dictators and conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East, which he denies.
According to the U.S. indictment, Bout told undercover agents in Bangkok he could supply them with 700 to 800 surface-to-air missiles, five thousand AK-47 assault rifles, millions of rounds of ammunition, C-4 explosives, landmines and unmanned aerial drones.
A Thai appeal court had earlier ruled to allow his extradition to the U.S.
But new charges laid ahead of that order must now be formally dropped.
And under Thai law, a defendant has the right to object.
[Lak Nittiwattanawichan, Viktor Bout's Attorney]:
"It's important that both sides are careful about the law. If they continue the process like this, I have to say that my client is persecuted. If he's mistreated too much, I will use the law to protect him."
The court says Bout must be released if the extradition does not take place in three months.
