Thai court to decide embattled PM Srettha's fate on August 14

24/7/2024 13:59

        Thailand's Constitutional Court said on Wednesday it will hand down its verdict on Aug. 14 in a case that seeks the dismissal of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for appointing to his cabinet a lawyer who served time in jail.
        
        The case stems from a complaint from a group of former senators over the appointment of Pichit Chuenban, who has since resigned and was imprisoned briefly in 2008 for contempt of court over an alleged attempt to bribe court staff, which was never proven.
        
        Real estate tycoon Srettha denies wrongdoing and says Pichit, a former lawyer for the politically powerful Shinawatra family, was thoroughly vetted and his appointment was above board.
        
        The removal of Srettha could plunge Thailand into uncertainty and would require parliament to elect a new premier, potentially pitting his Pheu Thai Party against coalition partners in what could result in a shakeup of the governing alliance and a realignment of cabinet and policies.