Thai prosecutors apparently have decided not to appeal a fraud conspiracy case against a Japanese Red Army fugitive wanted by Japan for the 1970 hijacking of a Japan Airlines jet, paving the way for his extradition, it was learned Wednesday.
The decision, which has supposedly been conveyed to Japanese authorities, means Yoshimi Tanaka, 51, will be released after having been cleared in June on charges of using $9,000 in counterfeit bills to defraud a Thai businessman in January 1996.
However, Thai public prosecutors, upon hearing the reports Wednesday, denied they had already informed Japan of their decision not to appeal the Thai court ruling on Tanaka.