A Bangkok court on Monday dismissed a claim by alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout against a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officer.
Former Russian army officer Bout, 43, remains in custody in a Thai jail after the Bangkok Criminal Court refused in August to extradite him to the United States, where he is facing four terrorism-related charges and a possible life sentence. He has repeatedly denied the accusations.
In his claim, Bout asserted that U.S. officers violated Thai laws when arresting him in March 2008.
However, the court said the DEA agent's whereabouts could not be established.
The court previously rejected Bout's claims against another two DEA agents, who had also participated in his arrest, on the grounds that they were U.S. embassy staff and had diplomatic immunity.
Bout's defense lawyer said they would appeal the court ruling.
Bout denies all charges and says he has never been involved in the arms trade.
Bout is facing new charges in the United States. In February, the Southern District of the New York Court found Bout, nicknamed the "Merchant of Death," and his alleged associate Richard Chichakli guilty of violating the 1995 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by concealing millions of dollars in arms sales profits.
The new indictment also charges Bout with supplying two Boeing planes to Liberia's former president Charles Taylor in 2004, bypassing UN sanctions.
The U.S. court also accused Bout and Chichakli of conspiracy, money laundering and wire fraud.
U.S. prosecutors said they would now again seek Bout's extradition from Thailand in light of the new charges.
BANGKOK, April 26 (RIA Novosti)
