Bout Extradition Challenge

The Defense for Viktor Bout, "suspected arms trafficker"... eh hem... has filed an accusation that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents overstepped their jurisdiction in leading the arrest last year. The filing asserts violations of Thai law in the process. The lawyer,

Mr. Chamroen said Monday that American agents had violated Thai law by apprehending Mr. Bout on their own before calling the Thai police to arrest him. They were also carrying firearms in violation of Thai law, he said.

“They invaded a public place without a search warrant,” Mr. Chamroen said in an interview. “They have no power to do this.”

The accusations may resonate among Thai officials who sometimes complain of a heavy-handed approach among the large contingent of American intelligence and law enforcement officials stationed here.

Maybe. Maybe not. There is very little actually in doubt about who V. Bout is or what he has done.

This is at least a stall-tactic, and it could undermine the entire case against V. Bout, so how it is received by the judge is going to be of great importance. These new charges will be heard separately by a judge on July 13th. V. Bout has a procedural hearing, today, as well.