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BANGKOK - A THAI court on Monday postponed extradition hearings for alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is fighting a request to be sent to the United States on terrorism charges.
Judges and lawyers at the criminal court agreed to reconvene at a later date as Bout's new lawyer was unable to attend Monday's hearing.
Bout, who has been dubbed the 'Merchant of Death' for his alleged role in supplying arms to global conflicts, did not speak to media as he entered the courtroom in a prison-issue orange uniform, with his legs in shackles.
The former Soviet air force officer was arrested in Bangkok in March this year after an elaborate undercover operation involving US anti-drug agents.
Thailand's criminal court must decide whether there is enough evidence to send Bout to the US, where he faces four counts of terrorism for seeking to sell millions of dollars of weapons to Colombia's Marxist FARC rebels.
During the sting operation, Bout allegedly agreed to supply surface-to-air missiles to US anti-drug agents posing as rebels from FARC, which Washington considers to be a foreign terrorist organisation.
He has also been charged with conspiracy to kill US officers or employees and conspiracy to acquire and use an anti-aircraft missile.
Bout faces life in prison if convicted by a US court, and has been held at a maximum-security prison outside Bangkok since his arrest on March 6. He has denied the charges against him. -- AFP
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