NEW YORK (Sputnik) – “They reeled this guy in. They offered him a lot of money…I gave the lowest sentence I could possibly give,” Scheindlin said in an interview with the New York Times published on Monday.
Bout was arrested in Bangkok in 2008 in a joint operation between Thai and US authorities, who accused him of conspiring to kill US nationals by allegedly agreeing to supply Columbian militants with weapons. Undercover agents posing as members of Columbia’s FARC rebel group were used as part of the operation.
In October 2015, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Bout was “unjustifiably convicted” and that the case was “another politicized step by the US judicial system, which clearly follows orders from 'above’.” According to the spokeswoman, Russia will continue its efforts to facilitate Bout’s return.
