Russian pianist back in Thailand for rape hearing

Acclaimed Russian pianist Mikhail Pletnev made a brief appearance in a Thai court on Monday to plead not guilty to raping a boy and said the fact he had returned to the country showed he was a man of honor.

Pletnev was arrested in the resort town of Pattaya on July 5 for allegedly raping a 14-year-old Thai boy. He was released on bail and permitted to leave Thailand on condition that he report back on Sunday, July 18, with police saying he was not a flight risk. (Reuters)