Thailand's PM removed, jailed man appointed minister, Supreme Court calls it a breach of ethics | News India

Thailand's Prime Minister Shretha Thavisin removed: Thailand's Supreme Court on Wednesday removed Prime Minister Shreetha Thavisin from office on charges of violating ethics. The court had ordered the dissolution of the main opposition party a week ago. After these two incidents, there has been an upheaval in Thailand's politics. PM Shreetha included the appointment of a member in his cabinet who was in jail for allegedly trying to bribe a court official. The Constitutional Court considered this move of Shreetha Thavisin as a violation of ethics and found him guilty and removed him from the post of Prime Minister.

The nine-judge Constitution bench delivered the verdict by a split vote of 5:4

The nine-judge constitutional bench ruled against Shretha by a split vote of 5:4. The current cabinet will remain in place on a caretaker basis until parliament approves the appointment of a new prime minister. The court has not set a deadline for parliament to select a new prime minister. In a cabinet reshuffle in April, Shretha Thaweesin appointed Pichit Chuenban as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

Pichit was jailed for 6 months in 2008 for contempt of court when he tried to bribe a judge in a case involving former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra with 2 million Thai baht ($55,000) in cash in a grocery bag. When controversy erupted over Pichit's appointment as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, he resigned a few weeks after taking office.

The Supreme Court considered it a breach of ethics

The court said that although Pichit has already served jail time for his crime, his behavior was dishonest according to the Supreme Court's decision. The court ruled that it was Shretha Thavisin's responsibility as the Prime Minister to inquire about someone's personal history and qualifications before including him in his cabinet. The Supreme Court said in its decision that PM Shretha was aware of Pichit Chuenban's past but she included him in her cabinet. Therefore, we have come to the conclusion that he has violated the code of conduct.