Thailand to free Bahraini refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi

Thailand will free a refugee Bahraini footballer, arrested more than two months ago after Bahrain abandoned its bid to seek his extradition, a prosecutor in the case has said.

Thailand will free a refugee Bahraini footballer, arrested more than two months ago after Bahrain abandoned its bid to seek his extradition, a prosecutor in the case has said.

Monday’s decision comes after the 25-year-old footballer Hakeem al-Araibi was jailed for weeks in Bangkok’s Klong Prem Remand Prison.

Bahrain wanted him returned to serve a 10-year prison sentence he received in absentia in 2014 for an arson attack that damaged a police station. Al-Araibi denies those charges.

Al-Araibi, who fled Bahrain in 2014 and received refugee status in Australia, was arrested in November at a Bangkok airport while on his honeymoon following an Interpol notice issued at Bahrain’s request.