The Pheu Thai party is urging the government to investigate alleged meddling with the judiciary after a judge in the Yala provincial court shot himself on Friday in an apparent suicide bid related to unwarranted interference.
Pheu Thai deputy spokesperson Ms. Sunisa Thivakorndamrong today (Saturday) called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step in and find out if there is any one in the government who has meddled in security-related cases handled by Mr. Khanakorn Pianchana, the chief judge in Yala provincial court.
She also called on the judicial committee to investigate whether any senior judge had interfered with the work of Mr. Khanakorn.
Meanwhile, Future Forward secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul claimed on his Facebook page today that he had received a 25-page document from the judge in September, alleging meddling by the chief judge of Region 9, in a case he handled about a month before the judge delivered his verdict at the Yala provincial court on Friday.
He insisted that Mr. Khanakorn did not shoot himself because of personal issues, adding that he will release the judge’s document on social media for the public to see.
Mr. Saravuth Benjakul, secretary-general of the Office of the Judicial Affairs, said today that he will submit Mr Khanakorn’s case to the meeting of the judicial committee on Monday.
Mr Khanakorn is now out of danger and is now being treated at the provincial hospital.
Meanwhile, Mr. Paramet Intharachumnum, director-general of prosecutors attached to Thonburi Criminal Court’s Office, warned jurists not to criticize Khanakorn’s case too quickly or complain of alleged interference “because the document may be a delusion.”
He recommended they read all the 25 pages of document, not just scan through a few pages.
