Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has denied the charge of abuse of power at a hearing at the Constitutional Court.
Speaking in defence of herself at the court on May 6, Yingluck said she had neither violated any law nor gained any benefit when removing Thawil Pliensri from the post of national security chief in 2011. She affirmed that she did that in the national interest.
The court’s president Charoon INtachan said the court will rule on the case on May 7.
In March this year, Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the transfer of Thawil Pliensri was unlawful. Following the ruling, Pliensri was re-instated as National Security Council Secretary General. However, a group of 27 senators filed a petition to the Constitutional Court alleging that Yingluck’s replacement of then-national security chief Thawil Pliensri violated the constitution.
If the court rules against Yingluck, the caretaker PM could be forced to step down and legal experts said her cabinet would also have to resign.
Meanwhile, the PM is also facing an accusation of dereliction of duty from the country’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for ignoring warnings of corruption during the implementation of a rice subsidy scheme.
If indicted on those charges, Yingluck would be suspended from office and face an impeachment vote in the upper house of parliament that could lead to a five-year ban from politics.-VNA
Speaking in defence of herself at the court on May 6, Yingluck said she had neither violated any law nor gained any benefit when removing Thawil Pliensri from the post of national security chief in 2011. She affirmed that she did that in the national interest.
The court’s president Charoon INtachan said the court will rule on the case on May 7.
In March this year, Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the transfer of Thawil Pliensri was unlawful. Following the ruling, Pliensri was re-instated as National Security Council Secretary General. However, a group of 27 senators filed a petition to the Constitutional Court alleging that Yingluck’s replacement of then-national security chief Thawil Pliensri violated the constitution.
If the court rules against Yingluck, the caretaker PM could be forced to step down and legal experts said her cabinet would also have to resign.
Meanwhile, the PM is also facing an accusation of dereliction of duty from the country’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for ignoring warnings of corruption during the implementation of a rice subsidy scheme.
If indicted on those charges, Yingluck would be suspended from office and face an impeachment vote in the upper house of parliament that could lead to a five-year ban from politics.-VNA
