“Merchant of Death” May be Set Free
A court in Bangkok has rebuffed a U.S. call for extradition of a suspected Russian arm smuggler sometimes called the “Merchant of Death,” setting back American efforts to charge him with plotting to provide arms to Colombian rebels.
Arrested in March 2008 at a luxury hotel in Bangkok, Viktor Bout, 42, was part of an intricate sting in which U.S. agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which the U.S. classifies as a terrorist group. He is currently being held in prison in Bangkok.
The presiding judge, Judge Chittakorn Pattanasiri stated, “We will not extradite him to the United States.” He stated that Thai prosecutors have 72 hours to specify if they will appeal the ruling, and, if no appeal is forthcoming, Bout will be set free.
If prosecutors file an appeal, Bout will continue to be held
Bout has been tied to some of the world’s most infamous clashes, allegedly providing arms to former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor as well as Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi. He has denied all charges.
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