ABU DHABI // Thailand and the UAE signed a draft agreement yesterday on an eventual extradition treaty that could see two high-profile fugitives exchanged in the coming year. "This is just one of the co-operation agreements that we are trying to establish with our strategic partners," a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said. "It does not target any specific individuals."
According to Interpol, Dubai is seeking the extradition from Thailand of Michael Bryan Smith, a British national wanted on embezzlement charges. Thailand is interested in its former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been reported to be living in Dubai, although the Justice Ministry spokesman denied this. Mr Thaksin was ousted in 2006 in a military coup and later sentenced in absentia to two years in prison in a conflict-of-interest case.
Talks with Thailand began in Bangkok in April, when both countries drafted an initial agreement. "It will still take a few months before the treaty is ratified," the spokesman said. The next round of talks will be held in Thailand in the middle of the year. Thailand would be the 35th country to sign an extradition treaty pact with the UAE. As is common with such treaties, neither country would extradite its own citizens for trial but would be required to try them at home at the other country's request.
myoussef@thenational.ae
