Thai prosecutors plan to appeal a court ruling rejecting a US request to extradite Viktor Bout, a Russian accused of illegal arms dealing
The appeal will be considered within 30 days, dashing 42-year-old Bout’s hope of being released on Friday.
On August 11, the court ruled Victor Bout would walk free, citing “insufficient proof” and a “lack of basis” to hold him, and prosecutors were given three days to submit their intent to appeal.
Bout has been dubbed, "The Merchant of Death," for allegedly fuelling conflicts in Africa, The Middle East and Latin America.
He was arrested in March 2008 after an elaborate sting operation in which U.S. federal agents posed as foreign arms buyers.