Mikhail Pletnev, Russian Pianist, Leaves Thailand After Rape Arrest

BANGKOK (CBS/AP) Grammy award-winning Russian pianist and conductor Mikhail Pletnev has been allowed to leave Thailand after being charged with raping a teenage boy on the condition he return following a concert appearance in Europe, police said Thursday.

Pletnev, who was arrested at a restaurant Monday in the beach town of Pattaya, flew out of the country, either to Moscow or elsewhere in Europe, for a scheduled concert, Russia's Interfax news agency said, quoting Andrei Dvornikov, the country's consul in Bangkok.

"We expect him to come back [from his European music tour] given that he is famous and that he claims that he is innocent. And since he has hired a legal team, we expect him to come back to fight the case," police Lt. Col. Omsin Sukkanka said.

Pletnev has said the charges were the result of a misunderstanding.

Interfax and other Russian media reported that Pletnev planned to return to Thailand to report to the court on July 18. He is scheduled to conduct in Ohrid, Macedonia, on July 12 and his next planned appearance is in August.

Pletnev was released on 300,000 baht ($9,000) bail following a court appearance in Pattaya on Tuesday and ordered to report to the court every 12 days. The court initially said he would not be allowed to leave the country but later reversed its decision, Omsin said.

The musician could face up to 20 years in jail and a fine of 40,000 baht ($1,200) if found guilty.