Thailand clears Russian pianist Pletnev over molestation charges

[TotallyOz]

A Thai prosecutor's office has dropped a child molestation charge against acclaimed Russian pianist and conductor Mikhail Pletnev, Pletnev's lawyer said on Tuesday.

 

"No charges will be brought against Pletnev anymore. All the legal procedures are finished towards him. I have received a Thai prosecutor's office's decree," the lawyer said, citing the prosecutor's office of Thai Chon Buri Province as saying.

 

"I am absolutely convinced of my innocence that is why I did not hesitate for a minute about the result of the investigation. Now, when everything is over, I can only say that money was behind the attempts to trump up a case against me," Pletnev said.

 

Pletnev, the Russian National Orchestra (RNO) conductor, was charged with sodomizing a 14-year-old boy in July and could have faced up to 20 years behind bars if he had been found guilty. He persistently denied all charges.

 

During the investigation, the musician had to return to the resort town of Pattaya every 12 days to renew his $9,000 bail. The bail restrictions, which prohibited him from traveling abroad, have been lifted.

 

The Russian musician, who established the RNO in 1990, owns a small piece of property in Pattaya and spends several weeks there each year.

 

BANGKOK, December 28 (RIA Novosti)

 

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20101228/161967788.html

[Guest fountainhall]

Since this case has not been discussed on this forum for some time, may I refresh memories. Anyone reading the posts some months ago will know that I and one or two others vigorously defended Mr. Pletnev in what we felt was a classic set-up. I did this not because he is clearly a very famous person. I am 100% against any form of child molestation, boy and girl, whether the young person is 14 years old, as alleged in this case, or substantially younger. Anyone truly guilty of such a crime deserves to rot in jail for a very long time.

 

No, I did it because right from the very start, the case seemed obviously concocted. Nothing fit. Even in the first few days, a lot of the allegations levelled against him all of a sudden dropped away. This man was, we were told - and due to his fame, the entire world was told on what became a sensational front-page news item - the leader of a pedophile ring, he arranged the prostitution of young boys for other foreigners, he made vdos featuring young boys and circulated them on a closed internet site, the police had found images of child pornography during a search of his home. Almost as an afterthought, he had twice molested a boy, then aged 14. For whatever reason, that boy then failed to report theses incidents to the authorities until some months later.

 

Despite the lurid headlines, it was the Russian Embassy which was the first to put the case into perspective a day or so later. Agence France Press reported comments from a Russian consular official in Thailand, Andrei Dvornikov –

 

"The police informed Pletnev that some Thai citizens who had been arrested for paedophilia and producing child porn had given evidence against him," Dvornikov said.

 

"The police conducted a search together with Pletnev of his house, where nothing suspicious was found."

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/381332-russian-conductor-charged-in-thai-sex-probe/

 

So from the outset, someone was lying - big time. Over 48 hours, the story had changed – big time.

 

Despite this, the police and the Non-Government Organisation (NGO) involved with the case, the Mother and Child Rights Protection Agency, then went on to make several statements telling the world that they had arrested a major criminal. When Mr. Pletnev was first given bail and thereafter permitted by the Court to leave the country having promised that he would return, more lurid headlines appeared.

 

"I'm very sure he won't come back to Thailand," said Supagon Noja, a spokeswoman for the Child Rights Protection Group in Chonburi province, where Pattaya is located . . .
According to Pattaya-based child-protection groups, the pianist had a history of child abuse at the resort, which is notorious for its nightlife and prostitution. "We've been working on his case with the police for a long time now and finally had him arrested," Supagon said, "and he's gotten away so easily."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/07/08/national/Pletnev-won&039;t-come-back-for-sure-child-rights--30133350.html

 

Yet Mr. Pletnev did return to appear in Court for a renewal of his bail and to face the world’s media outside the courtroom. Did he receive a public apology from the NGO? No. He was met with more vilification when this quickly appeared on one of the international news agency sites to again find its way into the Thai and world media.

 

Thailand revokes visa of Russian maestro on rape charge

 

BANGKOK, July 21, 2010 (AFP) - Thailand has cancelled the visa of Russian conductor Mikhail Pletnev, meaning he faces deportation even if child rape charges against him are dropped, an immigration official said Wednesday.

 

"The Thai immigration bureau has blacklisted him on the grounds that his behaviour is detrimental to Thailand," said Major General Pansak Kasamsan, deputy commissioner at the bureau.

 

"His Thai visa was automatically revoked after his name was blacklisted," he said. "He would eventually be deported whether it goes to trial or the charges are dropped."

The Major General’s department later admitted these statements had been made before he had received the information on the case he has specifically requested from the police and the NGO!

 

Fast forward. Mr. Pletnev returned to Thailand for the six bail renewal hearings at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars to himself. The last hearing was in late September. Under Thai law, the police had then to hand their files over to the public prosecutor or drop the case. At each of the previous hearings, the world’s media had been at the Courthouse. For the last hearing, absolutely no media were there – not even the Russian media! At this hearing, the police handed over no evidence and the judge ordered the case dropped and bail returned. But absolutely nothing of this found its way into any media anywhere! Not until Mr Pletnev’s orchestra released a statement earlier this month to the effect that all charges had been dropped. This was picked up by some international newspapers, including The Guardian in the UK. Still nothing in Thailand. The entire case disappeared off the radar. Until yesterday and the statement from Mr/ Pletnev’s lawyer.

 

There were comments on many sites that Mr. Pletnev had to be guilty. “There’s no smoke without fire” was a common comment. “He paid the officials” was another. The first is guilt by association and deserves contempt. How could anyone who visits Thailand only a few times a year for a total of only a few weeks be such a criminal mastermind?

 

The second makes absolutely no sense. If anyone still believes that, perhaps they can answer this. Why would any person as famous around the word as Mr. Pletnev go through a public assassination of his reputation in the world’s media, spend many tens thousands of dollars in returning many times to the Court and more in legal fees, have to withdraw from some very prestigious and lucrative concerts – and only then pay his way out of this affair? It makes zero sense when, as a wealthy man, he could have bought his way out at the very start.

 

Clearly, the law must take its course, and all charges of child molestation must be investigated to the full. WhIlst always maintaining his innocence, on several occasions Mr. Pletnev said he totally understood this. He co-operated fully with the police and the courts. I am delighted for him that he is now a free man. I remain appalled, however, at the host of lies and slander that so freely fell from the lips of many officials, not one of whom has ever retracted those lies nor offered any apology. But then, of course: this is Thailand!

[KhorTose]

I remain appalled, however, at the host of lies and slander that so freely fell from the lips of many officials, not one of whom has ever retracted those lies nor offered any apology. But then, of course: this is Thailand!

 

Two thoughts:

1. Why did it take so long for Thaivisa to report this when it was in the guardian almost a month ago.

2, The Thai authorities apologize, you've got to be kidding. They are still madder then hell they did not get any bail (bribe) money out of this.

[Bob]

No sense, at least to me, to get back into a discussion about what's true and not true about this case, especially when none of us is (or will ever likely be) privy to what really happened here. Either the cops and the alleged victim lied or Pietnev lied and/or money was or wasn't paid. All of those options are on the table at least in my mind.

[Guest fountainhall]

No idea why it took so long. It was not just The Guardian which reported it. A number of other international media outlets picked it up. I can only assume there must have been some sort of gag order on the Thai media so that officials did not 'lose face'.

 

Back in July, on this Board we all agreed -

 

this has all the ingredients of a best-selling novel - sex crimes, famous musician, friend of Russian Prime Minister, Thai Royal Family, Gorbachev, Clinton and Sophia Loren also involved as they recorded Peter and the Wolf with Pletnev's orchestra . . . What's the next chapter going to reveal?

I guess now we know the plot just fizzles out.

 

As for Bob's comments, we know we differ on the issue of who might or might not have paid anything by anyone. To me, it appears very clear that the case involved just the evidence of the 14 year old boy. Without going into too much more elaborate detail, we know this boy was an employee of an internet shop owner who has now been arrested twice on the very same charges Mr. Pletnev was alleged to have committed at the outset. This man has admitted molesting the same 14 year old boy more than 20 times. He ran an internet shop, employed minors, and it seems pretty clear that he ran the pedophile and internet pornography ring. He also knew Mr. Pletnev. It therefore seems to me pretty obvious that Mr. Pletnev's name was offered up as a means of reducing this guy's bail.

 

I admit, though, we'll never see the case files and we'll never know what really happened. And since this is Thailand, the truth may well be stranger than fiction!

[Guest fountainhall]

Seemingly this case is not over - till it's over!

 

Despite the authorities having first questioned the boy at the centre of the allegations since May when he first reported to them, despite the authorities having dropped all charges against Mr. Pletnev in September, despite his bail having been returned to him in November, despite his lawyer confirming he has the papers saying the case is over, despite everything - according to The Nation on-line, it ain't over!

 

Pattaya police said the case was still being processed and might go to court next month.

"Today I submitted the testimony of the alleged victim to the public prosecutor, who is responsible for delivering it to the court," police Lieutenant Theerasak Aebfaeng told the German Press Agency dpa by telephone.//DPA

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Thai-police-deny-paedophile-case-dropped-against-R-30145434.html

 

How in the good Lord's name does it take the police seven months - seven whole months - to obtain a simple statement from the boy who made the allegations in the first place, the more so when, according to another site, the boy has been in a social rehabilitation programme run by a government department, and such a statement appears not to have existed 3 months ago? It's unbelievable!

[TotallyOz]

How in the good Lord's name does it take the police seven months - seven whole months - to obtain a simple statement from the boy who made the allegations in the first place, the more so when, according to another site, the boy has been in a social rehabilitation programme run by a government department, and such a statement appears not to have existed 3 months ago? It's unbelievable!

 

That is easy. It took him so long to be told what to say in a convincing way over and over again. Once they told him everything that was done to him, he may now believe it.

 

The Thai government looks like a group of bumbling idiots with this. If those in charge were smart, they would have put one person as spokesperson for this and directed all comments to that person and that person only. As it is, often the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Plus, every time this makes mainstream media, it makes those in charge look bad and they strike back. IMHO

[Bob]

A perfect example of Thai justice (lack thereof) is the non-action against the wackos that took over both government house and the international airport. For over two years, the cops kept saying they needed more time to investigate. Shit, they could have just watched the news when it happened or actually gone out there for a look-see themselves. Alternatively, they could have asked a blind Barney Fife to investigate. Of course, politics had nothing to do with it......

[Guest fountainhall]

I missed some news when I was away. Has anything yet been done about the yellow shirts and the airport closure? I know many were quoted as saying they did not close the airport. They merely sat there, and it was the AOT which decided to close the airport. But we all know who caused it except, it seems, the authorities!

[Guest voldemar]

I am not sure why my post in this thread was deleted. Can somebody explain?

[TotallyOz]

I am not sure why my post in this thread was deleted. Can somebody explain?

 

I started the thread and I subscribe to all threads that I post in. I never received a notification via e-mail that you responded in this thread. That may mean it was never posted because if posted, the notification e-mail is immediate.

[Guest fountainhall]

I am not sure why my post in this thread was deleted. Can somebody explain?

I have been reading the posts since, as you know, I have been paying attention to this case since it came to light. I don't remember seeing your post. I also thought it usually takes some hours before a post is deleted or withdrawn.

[Guest voldemar]

I started the thread and I subscribe to all threads that I post in. I never received a notification via e-mail that you responded in this thread. That may mean it was never posted because if posted, the notification e-mail is immediate.

Then it was my senior moment. Instead of repeating the post let me just state the Russian proverb"Net dyma bez ognya".(When there is a smoke, there is a fire). I read enough of Russian sources on case in question to conclude that Pletnev (who is undoubtedly a fantastic pianist) had a long story of pedophile allegations against him. In one of his interviews he said that he has chosen Pattaya as a place of solitude, reflection and contemplation. An interesting choice, is not it? To me Pattaya is probably the most uninspirational place one can imagine (unless,of course, one needs a very special kind of inspiration...).

[Guest fountainhall]

(When there is a smoke, there is a fire. I read enough of Russian sources on case in question to conclude that Pletnev (who is undoubtedly a fantastic pianist) had a long story of pedophile allegations against him. In one of his interviews he said that he has chosen Pattaya as a place of solitude, reflection and contemplation. An interesting choice, is not it? To me Pattaya is probably the most uninspirational place one can imagine (unless,of course, one needs a very special kind of inspiration...).

Bob has made a similar point re smoke and fire. My response is that whilst this may sometimes be the case, it condemns possibly innocent men before justice has been served.

 

As to the Russian media accusations, a friend of mine in Moscow told me the media there has all but crucified Mr. Pletnev. Why? I only have some thoughts. I read he has made enemies in the music profession as a result of his relationships with Gorbachev, Putin and Medvedev. He has enemies because he has made his orchestra into one of the ten best in the world (according to Gramophone magazine) when the other orchestras which emerged out of the Soviet system are nowhere hear that list. He has enemies because much of the funding for his orchestra comes out of the United States (Gordon Getty is one of his donors - according to one article in the New York Daily News).

 

Looking on google, the only stories implicating him in any other allegations of this nature originate from a Russian scandal newspaper - a sort of National Enquirer type of journal. My friend tells me he has seen nothing specific other than allegations arising from that source.

 

Irrespective of that, however, you may not be aware that he has also been the target of Russian media here - only the Russian media. One Moscow TV channel even aired an on-camera interview allegedly with a "14-year old Thai boy" who confirmed that he had been molested by Mr. Pletnev. The PDN, having visited the relevant website called the entire article a "creation". Here's what how the PDN reporter commented on the 'expose' vdo -

 

The fourteen-year-old “teenager from a remote Thai village”, brazenly tells us about his sexual relationship with Mr. Pletnev, for some reason looks like a man of at least twenty years old. He gives us a full impression of a person responding to questions relying on a poorly memorized English text. A couple of times this “country boy” tries to use more complicated grammatical forms, of which he obviously has little if any understanding . . . After thoroughly and repeatedly viewing the video and reading the article, which caused Mr. Pletnev’s outrage and who claimed that he had never met or seen this young man, a PDN correspondent admits that this interview seems to be full of holes

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2010/07/22/higher-bail-allows-pletnev-to-again-leave-thailand/

 

"Full of holes!" The vdo is on the above link. If it was not so serious, it would be laughable.

 

I mention this because we know Mr. Pletnev owns property and runs a sort of sports complex near his home. We also know only too well that Russian gangs operate in the country.

 

criminal networks composed of mostly Russian nationals operating in Pattaya and Phuket are responsible for the commission of numerous crimes, including extortion, money laundering, narcotics trafficking, real estate fraud, financial fraud, human smuggling, pandering, counterfeiting, document fraud, cybercrime, and illegal importation of cars

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-emba ... nts/238045

 

Are the two linked? Did Mr. Pletnev forget to pay off the BIB and/or the Russian mafia who decided it was payback time? I have absolutely no idea.

 

As to choosing to live in Pattaya for a few weeks a year, I believe he spends much more time at his homes in Moscow and Switzerland (does any one query these cities?). If you have been brought up in Siberia and communist Moscow, I can think of worse places to chill out - and he is in Pattaya for only a few weeks spread over 3 or 4 visits, according to the media. (Does he live in South Pattaya or Jomtien? Has anyone ever seen him at the bars?) After all, a lot of the posters on many of the gay thailand forums choose to live there full-time and no-one points the finger at them! I understand from thaivisa.com that he has a circle of straight expatriate friends, is a member of the flying club, learned to fly and now flies almost daily when there. Does that make him innocent of the charges? No. Does that make him sound like a loner here for a few weeks each year with under-age boys? No, but I don't know. But I do think it shows he is pretty well integrated into at least some section of Pattaya society that does not agree with what scandal magazines in Moscow print.

[Guest voldemar]

Looking on google, the only stories implicating him in any other allegations of this nature originate from a Russian scandal newspaper - a sort of National Enquirer type of journal. My friend tells me he has seen nothing specific other than allegations arising from that source.

 

Well, from what I read, there is much more than that. He twice barely escaped court charges in Russia (and was instead a witness). You see, he may have enemies in Russia but it would be highly unsual over there to concoct pedophile accusations. In fact, I am not aware of any public figure of such scale (wrongly) accused of that. Nor, do I believe that Russian mafia in Thailand can pose any threat to somebody like Pletnev or blackmail him over here (unless they have a hard evidence against him). Look, I have absolutely no knowledge about what Pletnev did or did not do in Thailand and I am not accusing him of anything. But what I sense in your response is that you absolutely reject the idea that someone can be a brilliant musician and pedophile simultaneously.

And I learnt to overcome my predispositions which may easily become prejudicies.

[Guest fountainhall]

I have absolutely no knowledge about what Pletnev did or did not do in Thailand and I am not accusing him of anything. But what I sense in your response is that you absolutely reject the idea that someone can be a brilliant musician and pedophile simultaneously.

I think my responses on this subject have been pretty consistent. I must surely have made it clear that I also do not know what happened in this case. As I have said, we'll probably never know the truth unless someone leaks the case file. I also fully accept that, regrettably, virtually anyone can be a pedophile no matter what his occupation or reputation.

 

My point has always been that the facts of this case - as we know them - have never stacked up. And the longer the case has gone on, the more inconsistencies always seem to crop up. I believe a lot of people agree that the way several different authorities (police, the NGO, Immigration Department) have handled the case from the outset, with highly damaging leaks of what was later admitted to be false information, an alleged victim whose past seems to indicate he may not be wholly trustworthy given his history working for the internet cafe owner who admitted to having raped him "20 times", and a lot more more, has raised what amounts to an overwhelming degree of reasonable doubt. Add to that the fact that Mr. Pletnev chose to return many times and always fulfilled the requirements of the law, and the balance of doubt falls more than firmly in his favour.

 

I also have no information about Russian mafia tactics and defer to your greater understanding of that issue. As for the Russian media, again you have much greater experience than I. But as the Pattaya Daily news stated on July 9 -

 

As seems to be the case in any high profile scandal, various media outlets, largely Russian, have found information linking Mr. Pletnev to several other cases of paedophilia and child abuse dating back as far as the 1980’s

After many google searches, the only source I can find is Moskovsky Komsomolets which seems to thrive on scandal. I have yet to read of any other media source which does not take its information from that particular journal. There was, as I stated, one wholly inaccurate television report of the so-called history of the Pattaya case which included a farcically fake vdo interview with a boy it claimed was 14 but who is clearly a lot older. The accuracy of the Russian media reporting that I have seen therefore seems to leave a lot to be desired.

 

Again, without knowing exactly what happened, I have to say an objective balance of the evidence we have read about and the actions of people in authority in the Pattaya case puts the authorities in the dock, not Mr. Pletnev.

[Guest voldemar]

I think my responses on this subject have been pretty consistent. I must surely have made it clear that I also do not know what happened in this case. As I have said, we'll probably never know the truth unless someone leaks the case file. I also fully accept that, regrettably, virtually anyone can be a pedophile no matter what his occupation or reputation.

 

My point has always been that the facts of this case - as we know them - have never stacked up. And the longer the case has gone on, the more inconsistencies always seem to crop up. I believe a lot of people agree that the way several different authorities (police, the NGO, Immigration Department) have handled the case from the outset, with highly damaging leaks of what was later admitted to be false information, an alleged victim whose past seems to indicate he may not be wholly trustworthy given his history working for the internet cafe owner who admitted to having raped him "20 times", and a lot more more, has raised what amounts to an overwhelming degree of reasonable doubt. Add to that the fact that Mr. Pletnev chose to return many times and always fulfilled the requirements of the law, and the balance of doubt falls more than firmly in his favour.

 

I also have no information about Russian mafia tactics and defer to your greater understanding of that issue. As for the Russian media, again you have much greater experience than I. But as the Pattaya Daily news stated on July 9 -

 

 

After many google searches, the only source I can find is Moskovsky Komsomolets which seems to thrive on scandal. I have yet to read of any other media source which does not take its information from that particular journal. There was, as I stated, one wholly inaccurate television report of the so-called history of the Pattaya case which included a farcically fake vdo interview with a boy it claimed was 14 but who is clearly a lot older. The accuracy of the Russian media reporting that I have seen therefore seems to leave a lot to be desired.

 

Again, without knowing exactly what happened, I have to say an objective balance of the evidence we have read about and the actions of people in authority in the Pattaya case puts the authorities in the dock, not Mr. Pletnev.

I read interviews of Pletnev and he ackowledges involvement in cases I mentioned (of course, only tangetially). You see he denies everything he can possibly deny. E.g. when it was suggested that the evidence found on his Pattaya computer, he said it could have been planted by people who lived in his house in his absence. He does not deny that he knows the guy who is accused in running pedophile ring (and my understanding that the guy was rearrested again) because it is impossible to deny that (the guy also took care of his house when Pletnev was out of Pattaya). He is saying that he knew nothing about the guy activity. Of course, it may be the truth but may be not. There are simply too many read flags to suggest that it is just coincidence.

I do agree with you in one aspect. The actions of Thai authorities in this case are simply unacceptable. The lesson I draw from here is that we also should be quite careful when other people accused in Pattaya in pedofile activities based on indirect evidence.

[Guest fountainhall]

You see he denies everything he can possibly deny. E.g. when it was suggested that the evidence found on his Pattaya computer, he said it could have been planted by people who lived in his house in his absence.

I'd like to see your source on this. The police at first alleged they had found images of child pornography on the computer. Here was the first release of information -

Using a warrant, officers proceeded to search the suspect’s residence, allegedly finding several hundred files, photos and videos on his home computer of child pornography and images of indecent acts with underage children . . . Officers believe that Mr. Pletnev was not only involved with committing sexual acts against minors but in the prostitution of young boys to other foreign clients visiting the area.”

http://www.pattayada...tution-network/

 

The record was corrected by Agence France Presse the following day -

"The police conducted a search together with Pletnev of his house, where nothing suspicious was found."

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/381332-russian-conductor-charged-in-thai-sex-probe/

 

So first there was incriminating evidence in the computer. Then there was no evidence at all!

 

Even Novosti stated on July 30th widening the confirmation to cover everything in Mr. Pletnev's residence -

“Thai police investigators told RIA Novosti that charges against Pletnev were based on accounts provided by the boy's relatives. During a search at Pletnev's residence in Pattaya they had found no evidence of Pletnev's involvement in child pornography.”

So surely it is no surprise at all that he denied it? What else could he do but deny it? For it was never there. It was merely yet another rumour that ran out of control.

 

The lesson I draw from here is that we also should be quite careful when other people accused in Pattaya in pedofile activities based on indirect evidence.

I completely agree.

[Guest razzamataz]

Police still say he is a paedophile and are going to keep going to convict him.

[Guest fountainhall]

An article in The Nation on-line today yet again betrays the hoofbeats of officials fleeing to the exits in this extraordinary case.

 

The child protection group that pressed the charges of molesting the Thai boy, yesterday denied reports that prosecutors had dropped the case. This despite Mr. Pletnev's lawyer last week claiming to a German newspaper that he had received official documentation confirming the case had been dropped and all was now "over". Not, however, according to the official from the NGO, Supagon Noja, the selfsame official who has on several different occasions shouted Mr. Pletnev's guilt from the rooftops for the entire world to hear.

 

Suphakorn Noja, who heads the Chon Buri children's protection group that had worked with police to arrest Pletnev, said it was "impossible" for the case to be dropped so swiftly. This case involves a lot of players. If the prosecutor's office has decided to drop it, he would need to inform the Chon Buri governor first, and the governor could ask them to re-examine their decision."

 

"The whole world is watching this case," Suphakorn said. "It will be a blow to the Thai judiciary if it is dropped."

So the case is still open? Well, not really. For having slammed in another nail, Khun Suphakorn goes on to make a rather startling statement -

 

He admitted, however, that he expected the prosector to drop the case soon.

Well, Khun Suphagon. Is it over? Or is it over? What then, pray tell us, is the point of your first non-statement?

 

The article then adds to the farce -

 

The prosecution was initially delayed as the alleged victim was reluctant to identify Pletnev and testify, according to sources at the Pattaya public prosecutor's office. The boy finally submitted his testimony late last month, Pattaya police sources said.

So this case, which only ever hinged on the testimony of one boy, despite what official sources initially claimed, was never even a case, because the main witness "was reluctant" - or maybe that should be "was unable to" - identify the supposed perpetrator. What I wonder 'persuaded' the boy to change his mind some six months after the police and the NGO claimed they had nailed their child molester? To any reasonable person, this entire shabby episode seems to have been based purely on hearsay.

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Thai-child-rights-group-denies-case-dropped-agains-30145729.html

[Guest razzamataz]

They will find some way to re open this case they cannot walk away from it when they look so humiliated.

[Guest fountainhall]

My turn to dredge up an old post. For new readers, please do not bother to read. it is merely a rather late update for those involved in the discussions 2 years ago.

 

I was always an advocate for the Russian pianist. Others diasagreed. Some suggested there can have been no smoke without fire - a fair comment.

 

The only point I wish to add - and which I forgot about at the time - is that in September 2011 I was at a Conference in Moscow (I posted a travel blog about it with pics). Delegates had been invited to see the famous Tchaikovsky concert hall and hear a concert given by the Russian National Orchestra conducted by Mikhail Pletnev, the musician involved in the allegations here in Thailand.

 

As had been reported in some media, no case went to court - for whatever reason (and I don't think it needs be aired again). One of the those at the concert and who went backstage afterwards was the Thai Ambassador to Russia. I know - because my colleague and I were introduced to him. Given the huge public prominence of the case, especially in Thailand and Russia, we were of the view that if there were any doubts whatever about the case and Pletnev's innocence or otherwise, the Thai Ambassador would be under strict instructions from the Foreign Ministry to avoid any contact with him. After all, very senior government officials had repeatedly made comments about how this man had damaged Thailand's reputation and would be banned from the country! Will they now apologise? Too much loss of face! TIT.

[KhorTose]

 After all, very senior government officials had repeatedly made comments about how this man had damaged Thailand's reputation and would be banned from the country! Will they now apologise? Too much loss of face! TIT.

 

Yes they are planning to apologize right after they return the blue diamond and the other jewels stolen from the Saudis.

[Guest Jovianmoon]

Yes they are planning to apologize right after they return the blue diamond and the other jewels stolen from the Saudis.

 

KhorTose, that was just gold!

 

More seriously, this whole story reminds me of the case against the late Arthur C. Clarke in Sri Lanka. Clarke has always been something of a hero of mine (plus my favourite author), so I was horrified to hear of the child molestation charges against him, and pleased when I heard that the charges came to nothing. But later, in trying to look at the possibilities outside of my own bias, I have sometimes wondered whether my old hero may, just possibly, have been a fallen hero... I have always hoped that was not so. But we'll never know for sure, eh?

[Guest fountainhall]

But we'll never know for sure, eh?

 

Isn't that the real problem? We all agree that child molestation in whatever form is a hideous crime and deserves major punishment. Yet, the other side of the coin is that it's very easy to target someone, and when there is a mass of circumstantial evidence, easier still to point an aggressive finger of blame. 

 

It's not only a case of a reputation being heavily tarnished, if not destroyed. It's the lingering suspicion that is equally insidious. For even with a court case and a 'not guilty' verdict, doubters will always be around to claim that justice was perverted and a verdict influenced or purchased by one means or another. For this reason, I believe the system in this country in cases like this - whereby someone is paraded before the public as soon as the police get involved and months before a case has been made (or, as in this case, not made) - is fundamentally wrong. And when very senior public officials emerge within hours publicly to denounce the 'suspect', this only compounds the damage. And such'accused' have absolutely no recourse if the case does not go to court, no matter what damage to reputation and career.