Thailand frees Bahrain footballer

BANGKOK: Thailand yesterday set freed a refugee Bahraini footballer with residency status in Australia who was arrested more than two months ago, a prosecutor said, after Bahrain abandoned its extradition bid. Hakeem Al Araibi, 25, who fled Bahrain in 2014 and received refugee status in Australia, was arrested in November at a Bangkok airport following an Interpol notice issued at Bahrain’s request. A Thai court approved a motion to drop the case after Bahrain withdrew the request.