Bangkok: The Constitutional Court has mandated the "Senate-Phumtham-Thawee" to present witnesses within 15 days regarding the alleged interference in the Senate's investigation of collusion, marking it as a special case. The court's directive is part of an ongoing examination into purported meddling involving high-ranking officials.
According to Thai News Agency, the case stems from a petition forwarded by the President of the Senate to the Constitutional Court. The petition seeks a determination on whether the ministerial roles of Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and Police Colonel Thawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, should be terminated. The inquiry references Section 170, paragraph one (4), and Section 160 (4)(5), questioning the legality of their actions.
The petition, signed by several senators, accuses both officials of influencing the process by designating other criminal offenses as special cases. This action is alleged to interfere with the Election Commission's duties by leveraging the Department of Special Investigation to influence the senator selection process. Such acts are considered to breach the principle of separation of powers, undermining the rule of law and ethical standards.
The Constitutional Court, after deliberation, concluded that the involved parties must submit a list of additional witnesses in line with the Organic Act on the Procedures of the Constitutional Court 2018, Section 60, and the Constitutional Court Regulations on the Procedures of Constitutional Cases 2019, Section 25. The submission is required within 15 days from the date of the court's notification for further consideration.