BANGKOK, 7 May 2014 – The Constitutional Court has unanimously ruled to remove Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from her office after she was found guilty of illegally transferring the National Security Council (NSC) chief Thawin Pliensri.
The court delivered a verdict to remove Ms. Yingluck and nine other ministers who approved the transfer of Mr. Thawin of having abused their power. As a result, all ten of them were removed from their posts.
The nine ministers include Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Chalerm Yubumrung, Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Santi Prompan, Anudith Nakornthap, Siriwat Kachornprasart, Pracha Promnok, Yutthasak Sasriprapa and Plodprasop Suraswadi.
The ruling echoed that of Supreme Administrative Court, which said the transfer had been unlawful and unfair because Ms. Yingluck had not given appropriate reasons for the NSC chief’s removal.
The case was filed by a group of senators led by appointed senator Paiboon Nititawan, who insisted the premier gave the green light for the transfer to benefit her own political party.
After Ms. Yingluck was dismissed, a deputy prime minister from the Pheu Thai Party would be replacing her role as caretaker prime minister. Two deputy Prime Ministers who did not attend the cabinet meeting at the center of the trial are Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal and Pongthep Thepkanchana.
