Thai Constitutional Court removes prime minister from office

Bangkok [Thailand], August 15: In a 5-4 vote, the Constitutional Court in Bangkok on Wednesday removed Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office for the appointment of a politician with a criminal record.
The judgement came as a surprise to many political observers. Srettha did not attend the judgement, saying he had other appointments. Dozens of senators with close ties to the military had filed a lawsuit against the former property mogul in May.
The senators accused Srettha, 62, of violating regulations by appointing the politician Pichit Chuenban, who has a criminal record, to a ministerial position in the government.
Pichit was sentenced to six months' in prison in 2008 for contempt of court in a bribery scandal. He had already resigned in May in the wake of increasing pressure.
Srettha had argued that Pichit's appointment had been in accordance with the law, but the court did not agree, saying the prime minister had violated the rules.
Source: Qatar Tribune