Charter Court acquits PM Prayut Chan-o-cha

[fasteddie]

Considering he'd already announced he would abide by the courts ruling I think the verdict was a given.

[mtls2005]

Laws and rules are for the serfs.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, darksidedog said:

History does have a habit of repeating itself, does it not?

You have to suspect that this, albeit much expected verdict is not going to sit well with many after all.

And I suspect he doesn't understand he can't just do whatever pleases him, he seems to believe that he doesn't need to follow rules, regulations, laws, ethics and morals, because he's special.

[Lacessit]

IMO the court is only pouring more fuel on the fire of the protestors, albeit unwittingly.

[spidermike007]

I do not think many will be surprised by this "so called verdict". To the average person, the entire system seems quite rigged. 

[Psimbo]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

Laws and rules are for the serfs.

Quite an ironic comment given your avatar!

 

Meanwhile  there was a wailing rending of clothes from thaigeezers who:

 

A. Failed to identify  the foregone conclusion.

 

and 

 

B. Failed to understand that their keening and wailing over the issue (which frankly is none of their collective business anyway as foreigners) had absolutely no effect on this foregone conclusion) .

[pookondee]

Good thing for him he never appeared on a cooking show ????

[Susco]

2 minutes ago, pookondee said:

Good thing for him he never appeared on a cooking show ????

Is cooking the books not considered the same?

[trainman34014]

So; the Prime Minister's Residence is 'too big for his family'.   Perhaps he could have invited just a small number of the very large amount of dirt poor people living in Dark Ages conditions in many area's of the country.  Ah; but he doesn't even know they exist does he because he doesn't visit Rural Villages; especially in The North !

[RichardColeman]

I imagine those pushing the case should pack up and leave before the knock on the door later

[newcomer71]

Straw / back / camel

[Mike k]

4 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Showing the true colours of the Thai justice system under this military regime, disgraceful !

  

When the courts are run by the military who didn't see this happening just like dumbwit and the watches 

[Mike k]

1 hour ago, trainman34014 said:

So; the Prime Minister's Residence is 'too big for his family'.   Perhaps he could have invited just a small number of the very large amount of dirt poor people living in Dark Ages conditions in many area's of the country.  Ah; but he doesn't even know they exist does he because he doesn't visit Rural Villages; especially in The North !

Neither does someone else 

[Mike k]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

And I suspect he doesn't understand he can't just do whatever pleases him, he seems to believe that he doesn't need to follow rules, regulations, laws, ethics and morals, because he's special.

He is special in his own mind and his military is going to do whatever he tells them until another general wants his turn at the trough 

[billd766]

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

IMO the court is only pouring more fuel on the fire of the protestors, albeit unwittingly.

Actually I think that they did know what they were doing.

 

It is just that under this government, they simply don't care what the Thai people think, do or say.

 

They are in Big Brothers safe hands.

[poohy]

If i were him i would want to live in a secure army base as well

its not like hes a popular chappie you want as a neighbour

[bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, poohy said:

If i were him i would want to live in a secure army base as well

its not like hes a popular chappie you want as a neighbour

That's a good point. I'd imagine out in 'civvy street' he'd be living in fear for his life.

[NanLaew]

5 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

No there is a surprise for an "independent body"

Wonder how many former army generals appointed to that court?

 

AFAIK none. But there are a lot of former civil servants busily tugging their forelocks.

[n00dle]

6 hours ago, oompie69 said:

Must be very extensive renovation to take so long to complete.

More likely It began the day he was called to trial.

 

Why do they even bother with the charade?

[n00dle]

4 hours ago, scorecard said:

And I suspect he doesn't understand he can't just do whatever pleases him, he seems to believe that he doesn't need to follow rules, regulations, laws, ethics and morals, because he's special.

 

Is he wrong? 

 

Hasnt been thus far.

[Meat Pie 47]

5 hours ago, anchadian said:

Lets the protests continue.

YES EVERY DAY

[webfact]

Charter Court acquits PM Prayut Chan-o-cha

By The Nation

 

 

The Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has not violated the charter by staying on in his Army residence, so can remain in office.

 

The court ruled that military regulations allow former officers to remain in their Army residence after retirement.

 

Wednesday’s verdict came amid political unrest that has been escalating since July, with pro-democracy protesters demanding Prayut’s resignation, charter change and monarchy reform.

 

The opposition accused Prayut of breaching the Constitution by staying on at an official Army residence in the First Infantry Battalion of Royal Guards on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Bangkok, after his military retirement at the end of September 2014.

 

Prayut was accused of violating Sections 184 and 186 of the Constitution that forbid a government minister from “receiving any special money or benefit from a government agency, state agency or state enterprise apart from that given by the government agency, state agency or state enterprise to other persons in the ordinary course of business”.

 

In his court testimony, Prayut argued he had to stay at the Army base because the PM’s official residence, Baan Phitsanulok, was being renovated, according to a Parliament source.

 

Also, the PM argued that his security team suggested he live at the Army residence for safety. Hence, he said, the court should dismiss the petition against him.

 

The Army informed the court that the residence was provided to Prayut because he is PM and deserves the honour and security it provides.

 

Similar housing has been provided to other former Army chiefs who are members of the Cabinet, the Privy Council and Parliament, the Army says.

 

The opposition pushed the case knowing that a guilty verdict would mean Prayut was removed and disqualified from holding government office for two years.

 

It also knew an acquittal would mean business as usual for the prime minister, perhaps even bolstering his legitimacy as PM.

 

The Constitutional Court has played a key role in shifting political momentum in past years, making several controversial verdicts deemed politically biased by critics.

 

Three previous PMs have lost their posts as a result of Charter Court verdicts  -- Samak Sundaravej, Somchai  Wongsawat and Yingluck Shinawatra.

 

The court has disqualified two prime ministers – Samak and Yingluck  – and dissolved a handful of political parties including Thai Rak Thai, People's Power, Thai Nation Party, Neutral Democratic Party and, most recently, Future Forward.

Somchai lost his post as a result of a charter court ruling that dissolved his People’s Power Party.

 

All were at the opposite end of the spectrum to the conservative establishment.

 

The verdicts were also seen as fuel for mass protests by the red shirts and now Ratsadon (People’s Movement) against conservative governments and the royalist establishment.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398965

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-12-03

 

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[PatOngo]

6 hours ago, n00dle said:

Why do they even bother with the charade?

Because in their small, greedy, juvenile minds they think it justifies the filthy, corrupt system under which they operate!

[metisdead]

An off topic trolling post about the UK has been removed. 

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

All were at the opposite end of the spectrum to the conservative establishment.

there you have it summed up

[Mr Meeseeks]

13 hours ago, scorecard said:

And I suspect he doesn't understand he can't just do whatever pleases him, he seems to believe that he doesn't need to follow rules, regulations, laws, ethics and morals, because he's special.

To be fair, that could apply to many Thais, not just him. 

[RJRS1301]

1 minute ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

To be fair, that could apply to all Thais, not just him. 

Does not apply to the ones I count on my friendship circle, no idea where you mix but what a sad viewpoint 

[StefanBBK]

What difference does it make? I can see the logic behind staying at Armee Housing. 

[Venom]

BTW - In the photo I see he's wearing a mask with a one way valve, these only offer protection to the wearer and zero protection against spreading Covid to others. ????

[Mr Meeseeks]

3 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Does not apply to the ones I count on my friendship circle, no idea where you mix but what a sad viewpoint 

I mix with my factory workers right up to Thais in government. 

 

Few of them have any real respect for, or fear of the law. 

 

As to morals and ethics, do I really need to bother?