By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PRIME MINISTER SRETTHA Thavisin confirmed today (June 7) he has signed an affidavit to defend himself over an impeachment lawsuit and that it was readied for delivery to the Constitutional Court.
After the “fact-based”, formal statement written on behalf of the besieged prime minister and signed by him yesterday has been sent to court today, it might probably take a few months from now before the Constitutional Court passes a ruling on the impeachment case earlier filed against him by 40 senators, most of whom were allegedly loyal to Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan and former coup leader-turned-prime minister/now privy councillor Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Prime-ministerial adviser Wissanu Krea-ngam had reviewed the affidavit before the prime minister had signed it. He has been invariably viewed as a legal wizard who had allegedly conjured up “legal miracles” on behalf of the previous Thaksin and Prayut governments under which he had performed as deputy prime minister.
The prime minister has been accused of severely breaching the coup junta-designed constitution and code of political ethics by naming Pichit Chuenban, a former lawyer for de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, a minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office in last April’s cabinet lineup.
Though the notorious Pichit had already resigned under pressure, Srettha could possibly be subject to impeachment since the contentious act on his part was legally tantamount to a fait accompli, according to the accusing senators.
If finally found guilty as charged in court, Srettha could possibly be immediately deprived of his prime minister’s status.
The naming of Pichit, who had been sentenced to six months in jail for a verdicted contempt of court with an attempted bribery of administrative officials of the Supreme Court whilst defending Thaksin over a Bangkok land grab lawsuit in 2008, had been allegedly pushed by the de facto Pheu Thai boss himself.
The Pheu Thai-attached Srettha has been invariably accused of being practically overpowered by Thaksin, albeit in behind-the-scenes fashion.
Playing a pivotal part in the power play, the de facto Pheu Thai boss had not only allegedly manipulated to set up a Pheu Thai-led coalition government but given a final say to the naming of all Pheu Thai ministers since last year’s original cabinet lineup.
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Top and Front Page: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Photos: Thai Rath
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