Photos: Hakim al-Oreibi, Bahraini player, arrives in Thai court to face extradition request

LONDON (Reuters) – Hailed Bahraini footballer Hakim al-Arabi, who fled his country and has refugee status in Australia, arrived in Thai court on Monday, clenched in his feet, to face his demand for safe haven. 39, extradition from Bahrain..

Reporters, activists and officials, including Australia 's ambassador to Thailand, Alan MacKinnon, have been waiting to greet the Arab entered the courtroom, dressed for the day. a light brown prison uniform.

Authorities arrested the Arab in November during a honeymoon in Bangkok, under a notification issued by Interpol at the request of Bahrain, which he fled in 2014 and got asylum in Australia..

Last week, a Thai prosecutor presented an extradition request from Bahrain to the court, claiming that it showed that the Arab had committed a criminal offense and therefore had to be extradited..

Found guilty of vandalism against a police station in Bahrain, he was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison, but he denies any wrongdoing and claims to have participated in a televised match at the same time as the center..

Bahraini player Hakim al-Arabi arrives in Thailand

Bahraini player Hakim al-Arabi arrives in court

Bahraini player Hakim al-Arabi arrives in Thailand

Bahraini player Hakim al-Arabi arrives in Thailand

Bahraini player Hakim al-Arabi arrives in Thailand