Russian businessman Viktor Bout, extradited to the United States from Thailand on Tuesday on charges of illegal arms smuggling, has good chances of being found innocent, a U.S. court expert and consultant said.
Bout, 43, was extradited to the United States to face charges that he conspired to sell weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), among other illegal arms deals. He is facing life in prison if convicted.
"Bout is innocent. Whatever mud the Western press slings at him and whatever loud labels they stick on him, I believe that his chances of being found not guilty in New York are significantly high," Andrew Ternovsky, who has some 30 years of experience in working in the U.S. legal system, told RIA Novosti in an interview.
Bout, a former Russian army officer, was arrested in Thailand in March 2008 during a sting operation led by U.S. agents.
His extradition to the United States was ordered by the Thai appeals court on August 20, but was not carried out because the United States brought a second set of charges against him in February.
These charges were dropped in early October, bringing the so-called Merchant of Death one step closer to extradition. His remand period was due to expire on Friday.
"America dragged Bout into their own stadium but he has all the chances of winning his case even on a foreign field," Ternovsky said.
Ternovsky believes the result of this case in the end will depend on the group of lawyers who will be defending Bout in New York, where he will arrive later on Tuesday in one of New York's airports at about 9:00 p.m. local time (02:00 GMT).
Russia's Consulate General in New York told RIA Novosti that Bout would receive full consular support upon his arrival on American soil.
"I hope Bout will be defended by a 'Dream Team,' which of course will cost a lot from the financial point of view. However, the professionalism of lawyers plays a very large role in the legal system of the United States," Ternovsky said.
NEW YORK, November 16 (RIA Novosti)
