Deadline for Bout remand due on Friday

[Coss]

Extradition proceedings involving Russian arms trafficking suspect Viktor Bout will reach a critical juncture on Friday " he could either be freed, or remain in custody, or be sent to the US for trial, a chief prosecutor said yesterday.

 

Friday is the day when the 90-day deadline to hold Bout on remand expires, pending a further decision by the judiciary or an additional request from the US authorities, Sirisak Tiyapan said.

 

“If public prosecutors do not receive any instruction before Friday to seek judicial approval to keep Bout under remand, then he will be released,†Sirisak said.

 

In order to apply for the extension of the remand deadline, prosecutors must have a request from either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the US, he said.

 

Without such a request, Bout would be freed because the Appeals Court specified a clear deadline for sending Bout to the United States, he said, adding that the extradition process was held up because of a second extradition request detailing charges related to money laundering.

 

Although the Criminal Court dismissed the second extradition request due to the appellate review on the earlier request approving the extradition, Bout has filed an appeal asking for defence witnesses to testify and the court has yet to form an appellate decision on the matter, he said.

 

As long as the appellate review on the second request remains incomplete, the extradition relating to the first request cannot be activated, he said. Bout would be released if authorities let the deadline pass.

 

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