Global Courant 2023-05-29 21:00:32
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Canadian citizen Matthew Dupre has been successfully extradited to Thailand in connection with last year’s murder of a criminal gang member, Thai authorities said Monday, after the former soldier arrived in Bangkok on a special air force flight.
Dupre, 38, is wanted for the alleged murder of suspected criminal Jimi Sandhu, who was shot dead in Phuket in February 2022, Central Investigation Bureau Commissioner Jirabhop Bhuridej told a news conference.
“The deceased is connected to the United Nation Gang and was linked to the murder of one of the leaders of another gang called the Red Scorpion in Canada,” Jirabhop said.
Police footage showed Dupre in handcuffs and surrounded by police on an airplane. The extradition was on a Thai Air Force flight after commercial airlines rejected requests for transportation due to security concerns, Thai police said.
“We need to catch the suspect so that he can be prosecuted under the Thai justice system,” prosecutor Intranee Sumawong said, adding that Dupre will not face the death penalty under the extradition law.
“We have made sure there is safety in Thailand and uphold our reputation that this country is safe to live in,” she said.
An Alberta court approved Dupre’s extradition last December.
(Reporting by Juarawee Kittisilpa and Napat Wesshasartar; Writing by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Mike Harrison)
