A court in Malaysia on Monday ruled that Iranian national Masoud Sedaghatzadeh can be extradited to Thailand to face prosecution over a suspected bomb plot targeting Israeli diplomats there.
Kuala Lumpur criminal sessions courts judge S. Komathy ruled that Sedaghatzadeh, 31, was a "fugitive criminal" wanted by the Thai police and his conduct was inconsistent with that of an innocent man. "I am allowing the application for extradition and the respondent is to be detained in prison pending an order from the Minister (of Home Affairs)," said the ruling quoted by the Xinhua news agency.
Sedaghatzadeh said he would appeal the court's decision and was given 15 days to do so.
He was detained at a budget airline terminal near Kuala Lumpur in February after accused of being among several Iranians arrested over three accidental bomb blasts at a house in Bangkok, injuring four Thai nationals. A suspect's leg was blown off when he tried to hurl a bomb at policemen in an attempt to flee the house.
The explosions in Thailand came after bombings aimed at Israeli Embassy officials in India and Georgia which prompted authorities to believe they were part of Iran's campaign against Israel.
Sedaghatzadeh said he came to Malaysia for business while his lawyer claimed that he was in Thailand on a holiday.
by RTT Staff Writer
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