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Fugitive caught applying for Australian government job Fugitive caught applying for Australian government job
(34 minutes later)
A man accused of being an international fugitive and associate of notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout has been arrested in Australia trying to get a government job, authorities have said.A man accused of being an international fugitive and associate of notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout has been arrested in Australia trying to get a government job, authorities have said.
Richard Ammar Chichakli, 53, appeared in court in Melbourne on Thursday after being identified while applying to become a government security officer, police and judicial officials said.Richard Ammar Chichakli, 53, appeared in court in Melbourne on Thursday after being identified while applying to become a government security officer, police and judicial officials said.
"The man was found to be a person of interest through a routine background check and was not offered a job," said a police spokesman in the Australian state of Victoria."The man was found to be a person of interest through a routine background check and was not offered a job," said a police spokesman in the Australian state of Victoria.
He had apparently entered the country using a false identity. The US Drug Enforcement Agency believes Chichakli to be a close associate of Bout, who is known as the Merchant of Death. He had apparently entered the country using a false identity. The US Drug Enforcement Agency believes Chichakli to be a close associate of Bout, who is widely known as the Merchant of Death.
DEA spokesperson Michele Leonhart said Chichakli had worked with Bout "to ensure they could ship weapons and conduct illicit business around the world".DEA spokesperson Michele Leonhart said Chichakli had worked with Bout "to ensure they could ship weapons and conduct illicit business around the world".
Chichakli, an accountant and a dual US-Syrian citizen, has been on the run since April 2005 over allegations of money laundering and fraud, as well as attempts to purchase two aircraft to ship weapons for Bout. He denies the accusations.Chichakli, an accountant and a dual US-Syrian citizen, has been on the run since April 2005 over allegations of money laundering and fraud, as well as attempts to purchase two aircraft to ship weapons for Bout. He denies the accusations.
He is thought to have escaped raids on his home near Dallas by FBI agents, fleeing first to Syria and then Moscow.He is thought to have escaped raids on his home near Dallas by FBI agents, fleeing first to Syria and then Moscow.
He is charged by US authorities with having been a money man for Bout, who is said to be the inspiration for the Hollywood film Lord of War. The film is about an eastern European arms dealer who sold weapons to coup plotters and despotic regimes from Africa to the Middle East.He is charged by US authorities with having been a money man for Bout, who is said to be the inspiration for the Hollywood film Lord of War. The film is about an eastern European arms dealer who sold weapons to coup plotters and despotic regimes from Africa to the Middle East.
Among those said to have bought weapons from the pair was former Liberian strongman Charles Taylor, who was sentenced last year to 50 years in jail for crimes against humanity. Regimes in Sudan, Libya and Angola are also said to have been Bout's clients.Among those said to have bought weapons from the pair was former Liberian strongman Charles Taylor, who was sentenced last year to 50 years in jail for crimes against humanity. Regimes in Sudan, Libya and Angola are also said to have been Bout's clients.
Bout, a former Soviet military officer, was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the United States in 2010.Bout, a former Soviet military officer, was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the United States in 2010.
He was jailed in April 2012 for 25 years after being convicted of conspiring to sell weapons to the militant Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia to use against US counter-narcotics agents and advisers.He was jailed in April 2012 for 25 years after being convicted of conspiring to sell weapons to the militant Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia to use against US counter-narcotics agents and advisers.
Chichakli faces nine charges in the US, each carrying a maximum 20-year prison term. A spokesman for the Victorian legal department said Chichakli did not face any Australian charges.Chichakli faces nine charges in the US, each carrying a maximum 20-year prison term. A spokesman for the Victorian legal department said Chichakli did not face any Australian charges.
He did not apply for bail after appearing briefly in the Melbourne magistrates' court, the spokesman said, and was remanded in custody until next Thursday to allow US authorities to apply for his extradition from Australia.He did not apply for bail after appearing briefly in the Melbourne magistrates' court, the spokesman said, and was remanded in custody until next Thursday to allow US authorities to apply for his extradition from Australia.