Thai PM Fired By Constitutional Court For Appointing Prisoners To Become Ministers: I Carry Out My Duties With Integrity

Thai Prime Minister Sretta Thavisin/PHOTO via Instagram @sretthavisin

JAKARTA - Thai Prime Minister Sretta Thavisin responded to the constitutional court's decision aka the Constitutional Court which dismissed him for violating ethics by appointing a minister who was serving a prison sentence or a prisoner.

"I am saddened to leave my post as prime minister which is considered unethical," Sretta said at Government House.

"I carry out my duties with integrity and honesty," he added.

Deputy Prime Minister of Phumtham Wechayachai is expected to take over the post of interim prime minister.

Sretta maintained his appointment of Shinawatra's former lawyer, Pichit Chuenban, who was jailed for insulting a court in 2008 over alleged attempts to bribe court staff.

However, allegations of bribery were never proven and Pichit took office in May.

Real estate tycoon Sretta became Thailand's fourth prime minister in 16 years to be dismissed under the same court ruling, after the court judge ruled the sacking of Thai PM for failing to carry out his duties with integrity.

Sretta's dismissal after less than a year in power means parliament must convene to elect a new prime minister, with the prospect of greater uncertainty in the country that for two decades has been plagued by a coup and a court decision that has brought down many governments and political parties.

"The court has decided 5-4 (composition of the judge's decision, ed) that the defendant was dismissed as prime minister due to a lack of honesty," said the judge, asserting that his behavior was "deeply violating ethical standards" reported by Reuters, Wednesday, August 14.

The decision underscores the important role Thailand's judiciary played in politics, with the same court last week disbanding the anti-establishment Move Forward Party after deciding its campaign to reform a law banning insults to a kingdom at risk of damaging the constitutional monarchy.