Famous Russian musician arrested in Pattaya on pedophile charges

[Guest voldemar]

Pletnev, artistic director of the acclaimed Russian National Orchestra, was released Tuesday after he posted 300,000 baht (9,300 dollars) bail following his arrest in the Thai resort of Pattaya.

 

"He was initially charged with raping a boy under 15 which carries a jail term of four to 20 years," Lieutenant Colonel Omsin Sukkanka told AFP.

 

He said police were considering whether to also file charges of illegal detention of a juvenile against Pletnev.

 

"He has to report to the court every 12 days and if he wants to travel overseas he has to seek court permission because we already notified the immigration authority," Omsin said.

 

Supagon Noja, a worker with a non-governmental organisation in Pattaya who has been actively involved in the case, said the victim was still in school. He said Pletnev denied the charge.

 

"The victim filed a complaint with us. We cooperated with police to investigate and obtained a court arrest warrant," Supagon said.

 

Pletnev is a long-time resident of the resort town -- famous for its raunchy nightlife -- where he has a spa business, music school and owns several houses, he added.

 

The musician first shot to fame as a virtuoso pianist, winning the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1978 at the age of 21.

 

In the early 1980s he started conducting and in recent years gave up piano concerts in favour of his increasingly in-demand conducting activities.

 

His recordings with the RNO of the Russian classics, notably symphonies by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, have been hailed by critics.

 

He is a member of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's advisory council on culture and art and in 2005 won a Grammy award for best chamber music performance.

 

The Russian government has sent an "urgent order" to its embassy in Thailand to look into the situation and provide consular assistance to Pletnev, according to a statement carried by the Interfax news agency.

 

"The Russian ministry of culture has learned about the situation... of the world famous musician Mikhail Pletnev with great concern," it added.

 

Police told Pletnev that some Thais who had been arrested for paedophilia and producing child porn had given evidence against him, a Russian consular official in Thailand told news agency RIA Novosti.

 

"The police conducted a search together with Pletnev of his house, where nothing suspicious was found," said the official, Andrei Dvornikov.

 

The consul added that Pletnev, 53, and his Thai lawyer would on Wednesday go to court to ask permission for the conductor to leave the country so he could take part in his orchestra's forthcoming tours.

 

Thailand is infamous for its flourishing prostitution and child sex trafficking.

 

It has made efforts to clean up its image and in 2008 expelled former glam rocker and convicted paedophile Gary Glitter to his native Britain after he had served nearly three years in a Vietnamese prison.

 

Viola player Yuri Bashmet, another Russian musician who grew up through the Soviet system to become an international classical star, said he was "in shock" at the news of Pletnev's arrest.

 

"If it is true then he will have to answer according to the law," Bashmet told Russia's Komsomolskaya Pravda.

[Guest fountainhall]

I first read about this on the internet yesterday and note that the story has since whizzed around the world in a matter of hours. It’s now in every newspaper, on every TV channel and goodness knows where else. Should Mr. Pletnev be guilty of any offense against a minor, then he deserves the severe jail sentence that will come to him. However, on the basis of what I have read, I have noted a disturbing number of inconsistencies which I feel must be aired.

 

As a preface, I know that Pletnev is indeed one of the world’s most famous musicians. He tours around the world for most of each year, as can be easily seen from the internet sites of his orchestra and other promoters. According to reports, he comes to Pattaya where he has a home and a sports club for between 4 and 8 weeks a year spread over 3 or 4 visits. He also has homes in Moscow and Switzerland.

 

1. My original information came from the on-line Pattaya Daily News who claimed their story came from the police involved in the case. Their first article, accompanied by lots of photos of the apprehension by the police, reported a Russian man named "Mr. Tiener Mikhail" had been arrested. He was allegedly involved in a child prostitution ring supplying young boys to Russian tourists, had had sex with many himself, and a number of other charges. This article was soon amended with the name Mikhail Pletnev and included the following -

 

Using a warrant, officers proceeded to search the suspect’s residence, find several hundred files, photos and videos on his home computer of child pornography and images of indecent acts with underage children.

2. The article and a subsequent one on Pattaya One News includes a video allegedly of police searching Pletnev’s home in Pattaya. This shows a rather drab, poorly furnished dwelling, and includes one photo of Pletnev with a mid-20s Thai in Europe. The Thai is clearly not under age by any stretch of the imagination. Yet, the following day, Pletnev – who, according to Pattaya One News had been remanded in custody – gives an interview in his own home to a journalist from Pattaya Daily News. The resultant article describes the home as “palatial”. Drab? Poorly-furnished? Palatial? Who makes up these different scenarios?

 

3. In his interview, Pletnev says that no computer was seized or even looked into during the police raid. He said he would be happy to let the police take them if they wished. So how did Pattaya Daily News have the false information quoted above to the effect that “several hundred” child pornography images were found on his computer? Again, I ask: who makes up these scenarios?

 

4. In subsequent reports in the media, Pletnev is no longer part pf a prostitution ring, no longer part of a scheme to provide under age minors to foreigners. His offense is now having had sex with one minor on 2 occasions, an act he strenuously denies. That in itself is bad enough – if the allegation is true. But it is very far from the screaming headlines of the previous day.

 

5. Now we learn that Pletnev has been given his passport back and may leave the country to conduct concerts in Europe next week prior to returning within 12 days for a continuance of his bail hearing. As a poster on thaivisa.com has remarked, has anyone ever heard of any alleged child molester being permitted to leave this country before the court has delivered judgment on the case? This time I wonder not only why, but am staggered that this alleged master criminal is given his passport and permitted to travel?

 

It seems that a Thai who looked after Mr. Pletnev’s home on his lengthy absences from the country was arrested first, that he is charged with running a child pornography ring and supplying minors to foreigners, and that he then pointed the finger at Mr. Pletnev. Did he do this knowing that Mr. Pletnev is an extremely wealthy man, I wonder?

 

Of course, I don’t know. But I do know having reviewed a lot of material that there are far too many inconsistencies here. In my mind, there is a major doubt that Mr. Pletnev is guilty of anything other than stupidity in employing a criminal to work for him. Using my best judgment, what I see here is a classic set-up.

 

What outrages me most is the license provided to the law enforcement authorities to bring in the media and to convict a man in the court of public opinion before he is even charged with anything. In most cases, this will have little effect on those involved. In this case, with the stigma of child molestation hanging over him, Mr. Pletnev’s career as one of the world’s great musicians is almost certainly destroyed. Assuming he is innocent, I lament his tragedy.

[Guest voldemar]

I mostly rely on Russian Press. It seems (as you indicated) he was implicated by Thai who ran child prostitution ring. According to Pletnev, The guy took care of his house in his absence but Pletnev did not know about guy's involvement in criminal activities. Russian press indicates that there is other evidence including statements of parents of a Thai boy and incriminating photos.

I do agree with the major sentiment in your post. I think we all remember the times when arrests were made only when farang (literally) caught with his pants down. The recent "standards" open possibilities for various abuses.

The problem here that Pletnev is expected to return to Thailand to fight allegations but, frankly, I would leave Thailand permanently even risking the carrier and being innocent :

we all know that faireness and truth not necessarily prevails in this country.

[Guest fountainhall]

The problem here that Pletnev is expected to return to Thailand to fight allegations but, frankly, I would leave Thailand permanently even risking the carrier and being innocent : we all know that faireness and truth not necessarily prevails in this country.

Thanks voldemar. I read that Pletnev left last night for Moscow. If it were me, I'd sure be tempted not to return and face Thai 'justice'. But for someone as well-known as Pletnev, I think he has no option. In the court of world opinion, he is now 'known' as a pedophile who runs a child prostitution ring and goodness knows what else. If he does not return, as others have noted, he most likely goes straight on to an interpol list. So he could not travel anywhere and would be subject to extradition procedures. To me, there would be no more clear proof of guilt if he fails to return, alas. On the other hand, returning should hopefully be a start on what will be a very long road to rehabilitating his ruined career - assuming this is a scam.

 

I have a feeling that the various Thai authorities had no idea they were dealing with such a well-known personality. Had they been so aware, they might have dealt with this case very differently - and much more out of the public eye, at least until they had a guilty verdict. A friend called me from Taiwan today. He made the interesting point that far from Thailand getting massive worldwide publicity about coming down hard on under-age prostitution, the fact that the Pletnev story is now in every newspaper in the world only serves to remind the world that underage prostitution is a thriving 'business' in the country. So Thailand once again shoots itself in the foot!

[Guest fountainhall]

Just had a call from a friend in Pattaya who has been speaking to a lawyer about this case. Apparently, according to the lawyer, the alleged sex with the minor took place on 2 occasions - once in December and once in February. Yet, the lawyer's information is that the boy only went to the police in April. This was a boy who admits he had already had sex 20 times with the crook who looked after Pletnev's home. Call me a cynic, but I know what conclusion I draw from that.

[Guest jomtien]

J Call me a cynic, but I know what conclusion I draw from that.

 

 

The conclusion I draw is that it is still illegal even if the boy had sex 1,000 times with someone else.

[Guest fountainhall]

The conclusion I draw is that it is still illegal even if the boy had sex 1,000 times with someone else.

I could not agree more, and I hope my posts make that clear. However, setting up farangs is not unheard of in Thailand, especially if it is known they are wealthy.

[KhorTose]

I could not agree more, and I hope my posts make that clear. However, setting up farangs is not unheard of in Thailand, especially if it is known they are wealthy.

 

I may be getting a little laugh over these postings. It seems to you that this case stinks and has the appearance of being a miscarriage of justice. From what you post, I am inclined to agree with you. The only thing worse then child molestation is the false accusation of child molestation. Where I see the humor is that you are upset about just this case, where I think almost everything this government has done lately stinks, and I am not the least bit surprised by fiascoes like this. Justice of any kind is a joke in this country, for all but the connected. You, of course, are correct in that the authorities had no idea that he was such a well know personality. He will be found innocent, whether or not, he actually is. He is far too big a name.

[Guest fountainhall]

Where I see the humor is that you are upset about just this case, where I think almost everything this government has done lately stinks, and I am not the least bit surprised by fiascoes like this. Justice of any kind is a joke in this country, for all but the connected.

I take your point - and respectfully agree that I am being somewhat selective.

[Gaybutton]

He will be found innocent

Maybe, but since he left Thailand, chances are he won't even be found . . .

[Guest fountainhall]

Maybe, but since he left Thailand, chances are he won't even be found . . .

Unless he has prearranged a bolt hole somewhere and is ready to spend the rest of his life there as a pariah, this man is just too famous to escape the limelight now. He's not a faded pop star like Gary Glitter. He's at the top of a global profession. The media hordes are after his every move now.

 

Guilty or innocent, purely for possible interest I found this YouTube clip on another site this morning. He's performing the last part of the popular Rachmaninov Paganini Variations with the Berlin Philharmonic.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90MuPqYtV_k

[KhorTose]

He's not a faded pop star like Gary Glitter. He's at the top of a global profession. The media hordes are after his every move now.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=90MuPqYtV_k

 

GB, I agree completely with fountainhall on this. He is one of the world's best and very unlikely to disappear.

[Guest fountainhall]

GB, I agree completely with fountainhall on this. He is one of the world's best and very unlikely to disappear.

So much is happening so quickly with this case that it's hard to know what's really up to date information. The Pattaya Daily News yesterday seemed to indicate that more people are starting to have doubts about the allegations -

 

Various local and international media sources are now reporting that Mr. Pletnev

[Gaybutton]

GB, I agree completely with fountainhall on this. He is one of the world's best and very unlikely to disappear.

What I meant was disappearing from Thailand. He's back in Russia. The Russian embassy apparently believes his story or at least that seems to be the indication, so I imagine the Russian powers-that-be will not extradite him if they are requested to do so. I think they would be far less likely to extradite him if they do believe the allegations.

 

From the Russian point of view I would think they would prefer to let the situation remain status quo rather than deal with the embarrassment that would be caused if one of their most famous musicians ends up convicted on pedophile charges. I would guess they would figure, and rightly so, that within a few months the incident will belong forgotten. I'm wondering if any of this even saw the light of day at all in the Russian media.

 

Unless Pletnev can prove his story, I doubt he would voluntarily return to Thailand to stand trial.

[Guest fountainhall]

I'm wondering if any of this even saw the light of day at all in the Russian media.

Seems you think Russia is still living in the age of the Soviet system! Not only were there were photographers waiting for him on his arrival at the airport in Moscow, he gave a press conference with, we are told, at least 40 reporters present. Indications from the internet show he is being crucified there as much as in other countries. Add to that, it is in several news reports that the Russian Children's Ombudsman has called on its Investigative Committee "to join in the investigation into Pletnev." So he is out there on his own. Maybe voldemar has more first-hand news.

 

In any case, it also seems he is leaving Russia - or has already left - for a concert with his orchestra in Europe on Monday. So he is certainly being allowed to depart Russia. And I'll bet there's a posse of media already checking with airlines to find out which flight he'll take back to Bangkok.

 

If he is guilty, then of course he might well not return. Indeed, given the future he'd face, he might prefer to become a 'flying farang' or whatever that is called in Russia, for his career and reputation would be totally destroyed. I am not sure if the international music profession is prepared to forgive and forget various crimes and misdemeanours. But rehabilitation of a convicted pedophile would be a definite no-no. Although movies and music are not really related, look what happened to convicted shop-lifter Wynona Ryder. One of the most in-demand movie stars, after her 2001 conviction for shoplifting US$5,500 of goods from a Los Angeles store, her career died. No producer would touch her. It seems she is now making bit of a come-back, but conviction for pedophilia is in a hugely different league from shoplifting.

 

On the other hand, if he is not guilty and wants, as he says, to defend his name and his honour, then he'll certainly be back. Frankly, as I said before, he has no choice. Not guilty and deciding to not return will have virtually the same result as being found guilty.

 

One other aspect of the case surprises me. Pletnev spent "between 4 and 8 weeks a year" in Thailand, we are told. How do you run a pedophile ring with underage sex movies, prostitution to visiting foreigners and the like (which is what the Child Protection Agency is still saying), if you are here for only, say, 4 visits of about 10 days each? That to me implies being the godfather of some sort of mafia with a well-developed organisation running the operation. Unless there is a consigliere supervising it all in his absence, I can't see anyone tolerating the level of risk it would involve - especially in Pattaya. It's all very strange.

[Guest fountainhall]

News agencies are reporting that Mr. Pletnev has arrived in Macedonia with his orchestra. So the Russians have seemingly been happy for him to depart their shores on this occasion.

 

For what is a very serious subject, I don't like to be flippant - but Macedonia is just a stone's throw away from Montenegro. Now if that were to indicate some sort of Thaksin/Pletnev association, maybe even involving Mr Pletnev's friend Mr Putin . . . ! No, of course, it's just pure coincidence - isn't it?

[Guest fountainhall]

Well, to those who doubted that Mr. Pletnev would return, it seems he is already back in Thailand. An Interfax news agency report dated yesterday has already been picked up by several media outlets -

 

"Mikhail Vasilievich (Pletnev) flew to Thailand today," Svetlana Chaplygina was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.

Russian conductor charged with child sex returns to Thailand - Latest news around the world and developments close to home - MSN Malaysia News

 

I trust the doubters will in future give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Gaybutton]

I trust the doubters will in future give him the benefit of the doubt.

He has the benefit of my doubt as far as his guilt or innocence, but I do question his intelligence. I can think of only two reasons why he would have returned to Thailand. One would be that the Russian authorities coerced him. The other would be that he is confident he will not be found guilty.

 

If the second reason is the case, I can't help but think of Kevin Quill, who also thought he would not be found guilty, but look what happened.

[Guest fountainhall]

I can think of only two reasons why he would have returned to Thailand. One would be that the Russian authorities coerced him. The other would be that he is confident he will not be found guilty.

Sorry GB, but I just cannot accept your idea of Russian coercion. This man has been crucified in the Russian media - far more, if that's possible, than in any other country. If there was ever a whiff of a government deal, the media there would be up in arms. Besides, the Soviet era when artists were certainly mollycoddled and their activities managed by the state, is long gone. All international artists in Russia are as free to come and go as they wish, I understand. Indeed, many like Pletnev have homes in various parts of the world in addition to Russia.

 

If some sort of deal had been made or was in the works, my view is he would not have returned. Any such deal would then have ended up with the case being pretty quickly withdrawn. That, though, would have smacked of "shenanigans" (see my comments on the Polanski case) and personally I doubt if it would have helped much in getting his career back. He would still have the stigma of pedophile hanging over him.

 

I incline much more to your second point, with the same concern as you express.

[KhorTose]

If the second reason is the case, I can't help but think of Kevin Quill, who also thought he would not be found guilty, but look what happened.

 

I repeat what fountainhall said in an earlier post. "The Thai police had no idea they were dealing with such a well known personality." I admire his courage and respect his decision to stand up to them in court. I have a strong suspicion that the police charged him, hoping for a payoff of such kind to make the charges go away. This man is not in the same catagory as Kevin Quill. To convict him they are going to have to have tons of proof that would stand up in any Western court, or they are going to get a black eye the Thai justice system will never recover from. In the world of Classical Music, this man is one of the superstars, and there will be a lot of people watching this case.

[Gaybutton]

To convict him they are going to have to have tons of proof that would stand up in any Western court, or they are going to get a black eye the Thai justice system will never recover from.

I wonder how many people would be willing to take that chance, especially if they don't have to.

[Guest gwm4sian]

I repeat what fountainhall said in an earlier post. "The Thai police had no idea they were dealing with such a well known personality." To convict him they are going to have to have tons of proof that would stand up in any Western court, or they are going to get a black eye the Thai justice system will never recover from.

 

But remember, this is not the first time or even the second time that his name has appeared in the press in conjuction with child sex charges. It appears he has "previous" as they seem to say in the USA

[Guest fountainhall]

But remember, this is not the first time or even the second time that his name has appeared in the press in conjuction with child sex charges. It appears he has "previous" as they seem to say in the USA

What has there been in the media apart from rumour? Given that much of what was printed and stated over the last couple of weeks has been patently untrue (try matching the police reports of a few days after the news broke with the variety of crimes he was accused if publicly when it did break), I am both curious and highly sceptical.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

In America we say "priors", not previous.

[Guest fountainhall]

I always thought "previous" is London (UK) slang.