Published: 3/09/2010 at 12:00 AM

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/194341/oag-pushes-to-quash-bout-fraud-laundering-charges

The Office of the Attorney-General is seeking to withdraw money laundering and fraud charges against suspected Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout - a move which could speed up his extradition to the US.

The OAG lodged a petition with the Criminal Court yesterday in which it said it had decided to drop the charges against the Russian to help expedite the extradition ordered by the Court of Appeal.

The request to withdraw the charges was submitted by Sopon Kasempibulchai, a public prosecutor attached to the OAG's international affairs office.

The decision to seek the withdrawal comes less than two weeks after the prosecution filed six charges relating to money laundering and fraud against Mr Bout.

It represents an abrupt turnaround after comments by Sirisak Tiyaphan, head of international affairs at the OAG, who said on Wednesday it was too early to say if the charges could be dropped as several issues needed to be worked out.

US authorities asked the OAG through the Foreign Affairs Ministry to drop the new charges to speed up the extradition.

The new charges had been brought against Mr Bout at the request of the US as a back-up measure in case the Appeal Court on Aug 20 ruled not to extradite Mr Bout to the US where he is wanted for alleged conspiracy to kill US nationals and providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organisation.

The court ruled the extradition could go ahead.

The Criminal Court yesterday accepted the OAG's request for consideration and will summon Mr Bout to testify on Oct4.