Thai Authorities decide not to press Additional Charges against Crew

    The authorities of Thailand have decided not to press additional charges against a mostly Kazakhstani crew that was flying a IL-76 aircraft impounded by Thai police on December 12, the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Askar Abdrahmanov told Kazakhstan Today.
    "According to our information, there will be no new charges against our pilots," Askar Abdrahmanov said.
    The Bangkok Post had published that new charges were filed against the crew, in particular, the illegal transportation of weapons, smuggling, and concealment.
    The Air West Georgia Il-76 had been detained at the Don Myang Airport in Bangkok on December 12, 2009, where it landed to re-fuel on the way from Pyongyang.
    A UN Security Council decision had banned the export of arms and ammunition from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
    Upon inspection, Thai police found rocket-propelled grenades, surface-to-air missile launchers, and other weapons. The crew included a citizen of Belarus and four citizens of Kazakhstan, according to Kazakhstan Today.