Charter Court rules House or Senate committee cannot compel people to testify or submit documents

[webfact]

Charter Court rules House or Senate committee cannot compel people to testify or submit documents

 

 

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ruled unanimously that the law, which empowers House and Senate committees to summon individuals to testify, demand documents pertaining to their investigations and which makes violations of the summonses liable to punishment, is unconstitutional.

 

The charter court’s ruling follows a petition, submitted to the court through the Ombudsmen’s Office by Mr. Paiboon Nititawan, a party-list MP for the Palang Pracharat party, seeking a ruling on the constitutionality of a summons, issued by Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavet, Chair of the House Anti-Corruption Committee. The summons had called for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to testify to the committee regarding an issue relating to the oath he took before assuming his premiership.

 

After the Constitutional Court’s ruling, Mr. Paiboon told the media that the decision means that, from now on, House and Senate committees will have no authority to order any individual to testify before the committees, to demand documents or to take action against those who do not comply with the orders.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/charter-court-rules-house-or-senate-committee-cannot-compel-people-to-testify-or-submit-documents/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-10-08

 

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[holy cow cm]

All I have to say is OMG! Talk about a protection racket.

[nikmar]

absolutely blatant!!

[2 is 1]

How many time say commitee in this txt! If other commitee don't do, it's other commitee.....--> commitee.....-> commitee.... Then sorry No the first commitee can do it. Then all over again, last commitee say "you miss one paper from commitee number 1" go back again. Law has chance before you do again and there have 2 new commitee what you miss in your third round!

[Mavideol]

these type of governments do these type of drastic decisions on a regular basis to avoid being faced with telling the truth, guess the ruling was made to protect PM I don't think it will be available to the common people, government will find a way to get around it

 

[madmitch]

Well, there's no longer any point (if there was in the first place!) of having an anti-corruption committee.

 

 

[Donutz]

Guess there is no point anymore in any house or senate committee. Or will they be able to find an exception to make certain people (read: those who are not buddies with the powers that be) comply? Thailand is where they rule by law instead of the rule of law so standards vary depending on who's the subject. 

[Srikcir]

Does this mean that the military, RTP, NACC also as extensions of state authority cannot compel citizens and public officials to appear, be interrogated and provide evidence? Such would seem to be just as "unconstitutional."

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

The summons had called for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to testify to the committee regarding an issue relating to the oath he took before assuming his premiership.

Only changed when it affected the PM...

[Redline]

Time to shred the constitution AGAIN