Court to begin footballer extradition hearing Monday

[caller]

In this case, like it or not Thailand are complying with their obligations.

No they're not. The notice was rescinded as it was issued by mistake. The Thais should release him or return him to Oz. That's their get out card and it's up to them whether they take it.

They have no extradition agreement with Bahrain in any case. They have only acted in the way they have for their own reasons - and Bahrains.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... y-politics

[handdrummer]

They have only acted in the way they have for their own reasons - and Bahrains.

As someone posted earlier the prince of oil sponsors the Thai football league. "Sponsors", i.e., invests money.

[Nereus]

Araibi lawyer vows new bail request

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... il-request

Suggests electronic monitoring device

Efforts to seek bail for Hakeem al-Araibi, 25, continue as his lawyer vowed Thursday to submit a new bail request next week, in which an option to wear an electronic monitoring device will be requested to assure the court that the refugee Bahraini footballer won't jump bail.

The Criminal Court denied him bail on Monday, and local and international human rights organisations were fundraising for a surety to support the new bail request, said Araibi's lawyer, Nadthasiri Bergman.

A very important person will be named a guarantor of the bail application for Araibi, she said. She refused to disclose who the person was. The human rights advocacy groups will provide him with accommodation and daily allowances to cover his day-to-day living costs, she said.

Immigration Bureau chief, Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, meanwhile, said he met Paul Robilliard, the Australian ambassador to Thailand on Wednesday and informed the latter about the fact that the requested extradition of Araibi to Bahrain is being considered in court.

According to Pol Lt Gen Surachate, Mr Robilliard had admitted to him that Australia did notify Thai immigration authorities about the Interpol "red notice" against Araibi, which led to his arrest.

The ambassador was very uncomfortable with the Araibi situation and he is therefore pressuring the Thai government to send Araibi back to Australia where he is recognised as a refugee, said Pol Lt Gen Surachate.

Araibi fled criminal charges related to the 2011 Arab Spring protests against Bahrain's government. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Thursday issued a statement clearing up what it said was confusion regarding the Interpol red notice issued against Araibi.

When the Australian government became aware of the situation, it ensured the red notice was rescinded as soon as possible, said the statement, adding that that happened on Nov 30, three days after Araibi arrived in Bangkok.

[StevePIraq]

yes rescinded after he was detained, this all happened because of Australia's mistake

[Nereus]

yes rescinded after he was detained, this all happened because of Australia's mistake

Which in any "normal" logical thinking would automatically make the arrest null and void!

[GroveHillWanderer]

Thailand are doing what they are legally required to do and that is to detain a person identified on a red notice. It is Australia who has made this mess happen by issuing the red notice incorrectly in the first place.

In this case, like it or not Thailand are complying with their obligations.

Yes, but as soon as they found out the red notice had been revoked, they could have released him. They didn't have to honour the extradition request from Bahrain, since there's no extradition treaty between them.

[laphanphon]

New bail hearing........... LOL ......... good luck with that. Jumping bail and skipping town is his specialty.

[europtimiste]

As I previously wrote Australia is shame country not protecting their citizens. Look Assange case.

[Nereus]

For those who have trouble reading plain English:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/pos ... e-tourists

PM's one-man show
First, Mr Chavala, please note that Interpol issued a red alert. A country itself cannot do it.

Next, kindly note that the red alert was cancelled and a standdown was issued afterward. Note that the Thai PM does indeed lack the backbone to intervene. He is a one-man show who invokes his famous Section 44 any time he pleases. It is really so hard to do a friend a favour? Australia is considered a close friend and ally of Thailand.
Notice how Section 44 was not of course used when Deputy PM General Rolex was accused of corruption. To say something would have taken backbone. Some have it, others lack it.
David James Wong
..................................................................................................................................................
Not our 'red notice'
Due to misreporting on the matter, the Australian government would like clear up confusion regarding the Interpol "red notice" issued against Hakeem al-Araibi.

Australia never issued a red notice against Araibi.

This red notice was issued by Bahrain on Nov 8, 2018, shortly before Araibi travelled to Bangkok.
The red notice should never have been issued because of Araibi's status as a protected refugee. This was a breach of Interpol's regulations.

The Australian government was not initially aware of this and in line with Interpol procedure notified Thailand of Araibi's travel.

When the Australian government became aware of the situation, we ensured the red notice was rescinded. This happened on Nov 30, only three days after Araibi arrived in Bangkok.

Australia is reviewing our procedures so that this does not happen again.

The Australian government has said unequivocally on many occasions that Araibi should be returned to Australia, where he is a permanent resident with protected status, as soon as possible.
James Fettes
Public Diplomacy Manager,
Australian Embassy, Bangkok
...................................................................................................

[caller]

So now the Thai's need to explain how Bahrain knew in advance that this man was travelling to Thailand.

[Nereus]

Refugee footballer to be freed after Bahrain drops extradition

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... xtradition

Thailand will free refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi after Bahrain dropped its extradition request, a prosecution source said on Monday.
-- More to follow --

[caller]

Good news and get's Thailand out of a difficult situation.

[Nereus]

Refugee footballer freed after Bahrain drops extradition

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... xtradition

The Criminal Court has freed refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi after Bahrain dropped its extradition request, a public prosecutor said on Monday, following a global outcry over the risks he faced if sent back home.

Public prosecutor Settha Thianpilakul from the foreign affairs bureau of the Office of the Attorney-General arrived at the court on Ratchadaphisek Road on Monday afternoon to withdraw prosecutors' earlier request for the extradition of the 25-year-old Bahraini footballer.

Shortly afterwards the court approved the withdrawal request and ordered Bangkok Remand Prison to release the man who became the subject of a mass social media campaign using the hashtag #SaveHakeem.

"We have been informed that Bahrain wants to withdraw the (extradition) request... if they don't want him, we have no reason to keep him here," Chatchom Akapin, director general of the International Affairs Department told AFP, adding the process is underway to release him.

Mr Araibi was reportedly freed at 3.55pm on Monday and will be deported.

Officials in Bahrain, an island kingdom off the coast of Saudi Arabia that's home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet, did not immediately respond to calls and emails seeking comment Monday.

The state-run Bahrain News Agency reported Sunday that Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa had a phone call with Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, but offered no specifics on their discussions.

Separately, BNA said Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa met Sunday with Thailand's foreign minister who was visiting the island. Again, no specifics on their talks was offered.

Former Australia national team captain Craig Foster, who has been leading the campaign for Mr Araibi's release, praised all those who worked on the campaign.
"Many wonderful people stepped forward to help Hakeem,'' he wrote Monday in comments on Twitter. “They all deserve to be in front of camera now, not only me. I can't list them, but will thank each of them in time. My thoughts are with Hakeem's wife. Her nightmare will shortly be at an end. Our prayers answered.”

..............................>>>>>>>>>>>>>> more at link>>>>>>>>>>>

[barrys]

That's really great, justice finally prevails. The only thing that leaves a sour taste for me is the quote "Mr Araibi was reportedly freed at 3.55pm on Monday and will be deported". Why deported? He entered on a valid visa, was arrested on highly questionable gounds and has since been incarcerated on the basis of flawed evidence. He should at least be put up in a first-class hotel, be given the chance to complete his honeymoon (though he probably won't want to do that in Thailand anymore), get a luxury flight back to oz and receive a wad of compensation for wrongful imprisonment.-

[oakdale160]

He will probably get fined at the airport for over-staying his visa.