The Constitutional Court voted 5:4 to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from the office today, after finding him guilty of gross ethical misconduct over his appointment of former convict Phichit Chuenban, a long-time lawyer for the Shinawatra family, as prime minister’s office minister.
The court also ruled that the entire cabinet was to be removed from the office.
The court ruled that the prime minister had displayed a “lack of evident integrity” over Phichit’s appointment, because it was common knowledge that Phichit had been sentenced to six-months in prison for contempt of court by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders over a bribery case and is, therefore, not qualified to become a minister.
The court dismissed as unacceptable the prime minister’s argument that he is a businessman and is not familiar with legal matters, noting that Phichit’s past was widely known.
The prime minister was fully aware of Phichit’s imprisonment and that he might have qualification problems if appointed as a minister and Srettha had, therefore, consulted the Council of State.
Phichit’s name was not on the first list of cabinet ministers, but appeared on a second, after the prime minister had met with “someone”, whose name was not mentioned by the court. That list was subsequently submitted for Royal assent, said the court.
Such conduct by a prime minister was an indication that someone had influence over him, to the benefit of vested interests, which would be damaging to the premiership.
“The prime minister should have used his judgment, because integrity is an important general principle. The appointment of Phichit, despite the fact that his name had previously been withdrawn from the cabinet list, indicates that the prime minister lacks “evident integrity” and breached ethical standards,” said the court.
