Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has told reporters not to "jump to conclusions" regarding the verdict of detained refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi after an extradition hearing began in Bangkok court on Monday.
Breaking his silence for the first time since Mr Al-Araibi was detained on November 27, the prime minister said Thailand was working with Australia and Bahrain to find a solution.
"Do not jump to conclusions about the verdict and do not politicise this. In the meantime, the Foreign Ministry is coordinating with the two countries, both Australia and Bahrain to find a solution for this issue," he told reporters at a news briefing.
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Sky News the sight of Mr Al-Araibi arriving at a Bangkok court in leg shackles would have upset many Australians who feel "very strongly" he should be freed.
Mr Al-Araibi has been granted refugee status in Australia but faces extradition to Bahrain for allegedly vandalising a police station there in 2012.
He was arrested in Thailand on November 27 while on holiday and on Monday was shown arriving at court in leg restraints, shouting "Don't send me to Bahrain".
Mr Morrison on Tuesday night said he had received a reply to his letter to Mr Chan-ocha calling for the Melbourne-based footballer to be sent back to Australia: "I've written to him again, because I was very disturbed at the appearance of Hakeem at the hearing the other day.
Craig Foster has been at the forefront of efforts to secure Hakeem Al-Araibi's release. Source: AAP
"He was shackled and I thought that was very upsetting and I know it would have upset many Australians," Mr Morrison said.
"I'm respectfully reminding the Thai prime minister that Australians feel very strongly about this, very very strongly."
Mr al-Araibi was sentenced to 10 years' jail in absentia by Bahrain but denies he was involved in any vandalism.
The head of Thailand's prisons has defended the decision to send Mr Al-Araibi to court in leg chains, which has also sparked outrage in Thailand over his "medieval" treatment.
Corrections Department director-general Police Colonel Narat Sawatanan rejected media reports Mr Al-Araibi had been wearing "shackles".
He said he was instead placed in "leg restraints" which could be "locked and unlocked."
He said according to the Corrections Act any inmate leaving prison in the custody of a corrections officer had to be restrained with an appropriate "fetter".
"Because this particular inmate has generated a lot of public interest and his case is related to international relations, the officer decided that he should use this type of restraint," Narat said in a statement.
"It is our duty to transport prisoners to prevent them from fleeing."
Photos and video of Mr Al-Araibi in chains and prison garb dominated local media discussion panels about the image Thailand was sending to the world.
Thai media are prohibited under ethical standards laid down by the self-regulating Media Council from showing images of prisoners in restraints.
Mr Al-Araibi will be in custody for at least another five weeks with pre-trial hearings scheduled for April 22 in the Bangkok Criminal Court.
