Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand to be suspended as court set to review case

[webfact]

Sukhumbhand to be suspended as court set to review case
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra will soon have to stop working as he faces legal proceedings for allegedly benefiting from a slanderous campaign.

Although Sukhumbhand was not personally engaged in the so-called campaign, it was said to have helped him win last year's election to return as city governor.

So, the Election Commission (EC) recommended that a new gubernatorial election be held in Bangkok, with Sukhumbhand allowed to stand again.

However, the final decision on whether a new gubernatorial election will be held will depend on a ruling from the Court of Appeals.

Pending court review, Sukhumbhand is required by law to stop working. He will hand the job over to his first deputy Pusadee Tamthai until a final decision is made.

"We will officially inform Sukhumbhand that the court has agreed to look into this case," EC secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong said yesterday.

An informed source said a letter from the EC would possibly reach Sukhumbhand next Monday. The court is scheduled to look into evidence from both sides on April 3.


-- The Nation 2014-03-29

[webfact]

City governor will be asked to stop doing his job



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra is losing his job now that the Appeals Court has accepted for consideration the Election Commission’s recent decision yellow-carding the governor for alleged irregularity in the governor’s election.

EC secretary-general Puchong Nuttrawong said Friday that the EC had been notified by the Appeals Court that the EC’s decision against Governor Sukhumbhand and the order for a fresh gubernatorial election had been received for consideration.

He said he would notify the governor and would ask him to stop working in accordance with Article 239 of the Constitution.

However, the governor is entitled to defend the case in the Appeals court. He also has the right to contest the election should the court agree with the EC’s ruling for fresh election.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/city-governor-will-asked-stop-job/


-- Thai PBS 2014-03-29

[Mister Fixit]

Death by a thousand cuts ...

[ChrisY1]

Can hardly believe it )

[AleG]

This is another proof of how the biased courts are in the pocket of the elites, the Yellow Shirts and the Democrats (all the same really), a judicial coup against the electoral majority that choose a PTP governor for Bangkok and see their rights trampled by the coup monge... huh? what's that? He is a Democrat? Oh, never mind then.

[taff33]

How the untouchable are touched,let's hope that the law gives a law full verdict.

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[geriatrickid]

This is another proof of how the biased courts are in the pocket of the elites, the Yellow Shirts and the Democrats (all the same really), a judicial coup against the electoral majority that choose a PTP governor for Bangkok and see their rights trampled by the coup monge... huh? what's that? He is a Democrat? Oh, never mind then.

He is a nominal Democrat and has been a pain in the side of the party for quite some time.

Consider him as disposable. Throw him under the bus, and one can say oh, look see, even people affiliated with the Democrat party are subject to the rules. The system works. On the contrary. Get him out of the way and another person, who's willingness to be a "team player" with the Democrats, can perhaps be brought in.

This is how politics works in Thailand. Doesn't matter which region, or which party. Up in PTP loyalist land, or down south in Democrat strongholds, if a local politician doesn't tow the "party line" he or she has a very short political life. Thailand, hub of group think and where anyone of an independent mind is crushed by society's norms.

[AleG]

This is another proof of how the biased courts are in the pocket of the elites, the Yellow Shirts and the Democrats (all the same really), a judicial coup against the electoral majority that choose a PTP governor for Bangkok and see their rights trampled by the coup monge... huh? what's that? He is a Democrat? Oh, never mind then.

He is a nominal Democrat and has been a pain in the side of the party for quite some time.

Consider him as disposable. Throw him under the bus, and one can say oh, look see, even people affiliated with the Democrat party are subject to the rules. The system works. On the contrary. Get him out of the way and another person, who's willingness to be a "team player" with the Democrats, can perhaps be brought in.

This is how politics works in Thailand. Doesn't matter which region, or which party. Up in PTP loyalist land, or down south in Democrat strongholds, if a local politician doesn't tow the "party line" he or she has a very short political life. Thailand, hub of group think and where anyone of an independent mind is crushed by society's norms.

So you are saying, without a hint of supporting evidence, that he was the victim of a Democrat plot to remove him from office? Riiiiiiiiiiiight.

[whybother]

This is another proof of how the biased courts are in the pocket of the elites, the Yellow Shirts and the Democrats (all the same really), a judicial coup against the electoral majority that choose a PTP governor for Bangkok and see their rights trampled by the coup monge... huh? what's that? He is a Democrat? Oh, never mind then.

He is a nominal Democrat and has been a pain in the side of the party for quite some time.

Consider him as disposable. Throw him under the bus, and one can say oh, look see, even people affiliated with the Democrat party are subject to the rules. The system works. On the contrary. Get him out of the way and another person, who's willingness to be a "team player" with the Democrats, can perhaps be brought in.

This is how politics works in Thailand. Doesn't matter which region, or which party. Up in PTP loyalist land, or down south in Democrat strongholds, if a local politician doesn't tow the "party line" he or she has a very short political life. Thailand, hub of group think and where anyone of an independent mind is crushed by society's norms.

Did you read the OP? He got a yellow card. He can stand again.

[Old Man River]

There are similarities with the cases of Sukhumbhand and YL. They are getting her for not stopping corruption when she had enough warning it might be going on although she, herself, wasn't involved. With Sukhunbhand, they are getting him for what his people might be saying at a speech, although he himself wasn't involved.

Both are not criminal actions and not impeachable, but both lose their political positions. For YL it depends when this case is final vis a vis the next election and for Sukhumbhand, since he doesn't appear he wants to run again, it is a moot point. ,

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Dr Bruce]

Sukhumbhand Paripatra, although a member of the amarta by birth is seen by many as a liberal member of the Democrat party. he has a reputation as a clean politician. Which is why they had to resort to such a trumped up charge to get rid of the sitting governor.

Pusadee Tamthai is a radical feminist who had some involvement in the BTS scandal. She was twice Democrat MP and was then one of the appointed members of the Senate and a member of The Group of Forty.

It is just the anti-democrats arranging the pieces ready for the next coup. They need a reliable puppet as Governor.

[rickirs]

Looking at this suspension from a different perspective raises concern with some PDRC proposed reforms. One such reform was that an unelected people's committee (possibly selected by Suthep's national people's committee) would review governors' performance, may suspend a governor due to lack of adequate performance, and hold new elections for a replacement. Such a reform would bypass the EC, the court, and appeal process currently in place. I guess the elimination of due process of law by Suthepo's "reforms" can make for a more efficient system of governance if one doen't mind the trampling of democracy.

[whybother]

Sukhumbhand Paripatra, although a member of the amarta by birth is seen by many as a liberal member of the Democrat party. he has a reputation as a clean politician. Which is why they had to resort to such a trumped up charge to get rid of the sitting governor.

Pusadee Tamthai is a radical feminist who had some involvement in the BTS scandal. She was twice Democrat MP and was then one of the appointed members of the Senate and a member of The Group of Forty.

It is just the anti-democrats arranging the pieces ready for the next coup. They need a reliable puppet as Governor.

What does the governor position have to do with a coup?

[whybother]

Looking at this suspension from a different perspective raises concern with some PDRC proposed reforms. One such reform was that an unelected people's committee (possibly selected by Suthep's national people's committee) would review governors' performance, may suspend a governor due to lack of adequate performance, and hold new elections for a replacement. Such a reform would bypass the EC, the court, and appeal process currently in place. I guess the elimination of due process of law by Suthepo's "reforms" can make for a more efficient system of governance if one doen't mind the trampling of democracy.

Given that the PDRC reform plans talk about having elections in 12-18 months, I don't see how any of Suthep's "committees" would be reviewing elected governors performance ... especially given that currently only Bangkok elect a governor. By the time any other province elects their governor, there will have been a national election.

[djjamie]

What amazing stories I am reading here. The conspiracies flourish and the boldness of the fairy tales grow with every post.

For years we have heard "judicial coup" and as recently as yesterday we heard "the EC are biased". Yingluck has even allured to the fact. We hear "why do the DEM's never get charged with anything". Well here it is.

Now we have a DEM governor that is suspected of breaking election law and based on facts and evidence presented and irrespective of whether he is DEM or PTP, the EC decided to press charges. Now the interesting thing is that despite the unfavorable direction this has gone in for the DEM/s what does Sukhumbhand do. I will tell you what he didn't do. He didn't burn coffins in front of the EC. He didn't throw feaces around like a monkey. He didn't threaten the EC. He didn't launch M79 grenades at the EC. Nope. None of that. Violence is the language of the inarticulate. That type of stuff is neanderthal tactics. What did he do. Well he worked within the democratic framework and appealed. APPEALED. Isn't that refreshing to see and a great example to set to the kiddies that if you don't get your way you don't go kicking and screaming and killing. You appeal the case. Works everywhere in the world and it is a breeze of democratic responsibility to see it here as well. Well done Sukhumbhand. Bravo!!

​Now to get back to the J.R Tolkien fantasy novel being written in front of our eyes on TVF which should be copywritted and bound in a book and proudly placed at the mantel of the fiction section. The absolute unwillingness to accept the EC are not biased and instead based on facts and evidence does not fly with the PTP agenda. There whole ethos is based on evil subgroups that need to be demonized. A leader from the 1940's was quoted as saying that he needed the jews as without them he would have no one to demonize and to blame the faults of his group on. Well if the courts are proven not to be biased then the PTP only have the PDRC left to demonize and to blame for all the "in-groups" problems. That is just not acceptable to the PTP and its supporters. So to counter this they construct stories of DEM plots and weak links and even mention a coup. You could pick out a UDD supporter that has this fixation on coups. They flinch when a crow coups. Can't stand to listen to Alice Coupers music because it brings back scary memories of women in the streets handing flowers to soldiers for releasing them from a tyrant…..arghhh, scary stuff heay. Imagine……flowers!! and they say this with no proof, no links and no facts. Facts are the PTP's greatest enemy.

To keep this as a happy PTP agenda driven article this is not a judicial coup. This is a DEM plot. The EC are still biased. However when the EC rule against the PTP it is not a PTP plot it is a vicious biased drive by the evil EC to instigate a judicial coup.

That my friends is without a doubt, unequivocally, undoubtable and irrefutably the typification of PTP logic. It should be framed and placed in the museum of natural b*llshit. They have outdone themselves here and I will continue reading this OP to see if Alics Couper gets eaten by the dragon at the end.

Edited March 29, 2014 by djjamie

[seajae]

There are similarities with the cases of Sukhumbhand and YL. They are getting her for not stopping corruption when she had enough warning it might be going on although she, herself, wasn't involved. With Sukhunbhand, they are getting him for what his people might be saying at a speech, although he himself wasn't involved.

Both are not criminal actions and not impeachable, but both lose their political positions. For YL it depends when this case is final vis a vis the next election and for Sukhumbhand, since he doesn't appear he wants to run again, it is a moot point. ,

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

talk about grasping at straws, these are nothing alike. This is a case of what 2 other people actually said, he had nothing to do with it at all where as yl WAS THE HEAD OF GOVT AND THE RICE SCAM at the time it happened and she did absolutely nothing about it yet she was the one responsible for everything that happened. Trouble is she is that stupid she never sat in on the meetings or supervised what was happening like she was supposed to, she simply takes the reigns then lets everyone else do as they please so she is the one that is solely responsible . If she had of done her job this would not be happening but she has no idea what it is she is supposed to do and that is no excuse as she was the one that appointed herself as the head person and the buck stops with her, stupidity is no excuse.

[Baerboxer]

There are similarities with the cases of Sukhumbhand and YL. They are getting her for not stopping corruption when she had enough warning it might be going on although she, herself, wasn't involved. With Sukhunbhand, they are getting him for what his people might be saying at a speech, although he himself wasn't involved.

Both are not criminal actions and not impeachable, but both lose their political positions. For YL it depends when this case is final vis a vis the next election and for Sukhumbhand, since he doesn't appear he wants to run again, it is a moot point. ,

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Things are certainly very different here.

Based on Sukhunbhand being got for what other people connected with said, when he wasn't even there, they can presumably get YL because some of her cabinet leaders and office said things at red shirt rallies, even though she wasn't there.

Mindboggling. Going down the plug hole at an ever increasing rate!

[Thai at Heart]

This is another proof of how the biased courts are in the pocket of the elites, the Yellow Shirts and the Democrats (all the same really), a judicial coup against the electoral majority that choose a PTP governor for Bangkok and see their rights trampled by the coup monge... huh? what's that? He is a Democrat? Oh, never mind then.

He is a nominal Democrat and has been a pain in the side of the party for quite some time.

Consider him as disposable. Throw him under the bus, and one can say oh, look see, even people affiliated with the Democrat party are subject to the rules. The system works. On the contrary. Get him out of the way and another person, who's willingness to be a "team player" with the Democrats, can perhaps be brought in.

This is how politics works in Thailand. Doesn't matter which region, or which party. Up in PTP loyalist land, or down south in Democrat strongholds, if a local politician doesn't tow the "party line" he or she has a very short political life. Thailand, hub of group think and where anyone of an independent mind is crushed by society's norms.

It's a perfect example of the partiality of using the courts to manipulate stuff. Dragging the current mayor down this long after the elelection because of something that may have benefitted him?

Stupid beyond.

[bigbamboo]

Sukhumbhand Paripatra, although a member of the amarta by birth is seen by many as a liberal member of the Democrat party. he has a reputation as a clean politician. Which is why they had to resort to such a trumped up charge to get rid of the sitting governor.

Pusadee Tamthai is a radical feminist who had some involvement in the BTS scandal. She was twice Democrat MP and was then one of the appointed members of the Senate and a member of The Group of Forty.

It is just the anti-democrats arranging the pieces ready for the next coup. They need a reliable puppet as Governor.

Reliable puppets are all the rage in Thai politics.

If the governor is being investigated he should be suspended and a temporary replacement appointed. The same should apply to the caretaker PM.

The people deserve to have someone who is focused on looking out for the country not for themselves.

[pmugghc]

It is just the anti-democrats arranging the pieces ready for the next coup. They need a reliable puppet as Governor.

Far out man! I'm sure you think the moon landing was fake too.

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[Blackmirage2013]

Ahhhhh, look, he is corrupt. Let's save the taxpayer money.... Convict him, sentence him to jail... let him pay 20 million baht fine and let him go.

[Blackmirage2013]

What amazing stories I am reading here. The conspiracies flourish and the boldness of the fairy tales grow with every post.

For years we have heard "judicial coup" and as recently as yesterday we heard "the EC are biased". Yingluck has even allured to the fact. We hear "why do the DEM's never get charged with anything". Well here it is.

Now we have a DEM governor that is suspected of breaking election law and based on facts and evidence presented and irrespective of whether he is DEM or PTP, the EC decided to press charges. Now the interesting thing is that despite the unfavorable direction this has gone in for the DEM/s what does Sukhumbhand do. I will tell you what he didn't do. He didn't burn coffins in front of the EC. He didn't throw feaces around like a monkey. He didn't threaten the EC. He didn't launch M79 grenades at the EC. Nope. None of that. Violence is the language of the inarticulate. That type of stuff is neanderthal tactics. What did he do. Well he worked within the democratic framework and appealed. APPEALED. Isn't that refreshing to see and a great example to set to the kiddies that if you don't get your way you don't go kicking and screaming and killing. You appeal the case. Works everywhere in the world and it is a breeze of democratic responsibility to see it here as well. Well done Sukhumbhand. Bravo!!

​Now to get back to the J.R Tolkien fantasy novel being written in front of our eyes on TVF which should be copywritted and bound in a book and proudly placed at the mantel of the fiction section. The absolute unwillingness to accept the EC are not biased and instead based on facts and evidence does not fly with the PTP agenda. There whole ethos is based on evil subgroups that need to be demonized. A leader from the 1940's was quoted as saying that he needed the jews as without them he would have no one to demonize and to blame the faults of his group on. Well if the courts are proven not to be biased then the PTP only have the PDRC left to demonize and to blame for all the "in-groups" problems. That is just not acceptable to the PTP and its supporters. So to counter this they construct stories of DEM plots and weak links and even mention a coup. You could pick out a UDD supporter that has this fixation on coups. They flinch when a crow coups. Can't stand to listen to Alice Coupers music because it brings back scary memories of women in the streets handing flowers to soldiers for releasing them from a tyrant…..arghhh, scary stuff heay. Imagine……flowers!! and they say this with no proof, no links and no facts. Facts are the PTP's greatest enemy.

To keep this as a happy PTP agenda driven article this is not a judicial coup. This is a DEM plot. The EC are still biased. However when the EC rule against the PTP it is not a PTP plot it is a vicious biased drive by the evil EC to instigate a judicial coup.

That my friends is without a doubt, unequivocally, undoubtable and irrefutably the typification of PTP logic. It should be framed and placed in the museum of natural b*llshit. They have outdone themselves here and I will continue reading this OP to see if Alics Couper gets eaten by the dragon at the end.

So boring and long winded..... nothing here.

[Moruya]

I see the daengophiles are out with their half-cocked conspiracy theories once again.

The truth of the matter is that Sukhumband's reaction to the legal action is how someone with honour should react to the courts. Classy

Yingluck, on the other hand, is classless

[djjamie]

What amazing stories I am reading here. The conspiracies flourish and the boldness of the fairy tales grow with every post.

For years we have heard "judicial coup" and as recently as yesterday we heard "the EC are biased". Yingluck has even allured to the fact. We hear "why do the DEM's never get charged with anything". Well here it is.

Now we have a DEM governor that is suspected of breaking election law and based on facts and evidence presented and irrespective of whether he is DEM or PTP, the EC decided to press charges. Now the interesting thing is that despite the unfavorable direction this has gone in for the DEM/s what does Sukhumbhand do. I will tell you what he didn't do. He didn't burn coffins in front of the EC. He didn't throw feaces around like a monkey. He didn't threaten the EC. He didn't launch M79 grenades at the EC. Nope. None of that. Violence is the language of the inarticulate. That type of stuff is neanderthal tactics. What did he do. Well he worked within the democratic framework and appealed. APPEALED. Isn't that refreshing to see and a great example to set to the kiddies that if you don't get your way you don't go kicking and screaming and killing. You appeal the case. Works everywhere in the world and it is a breeze of democratic responsibility to see it here as well. Well done Sukhumbhand. Bravo!!

​Now to get back to the J.R Tolkien fantasy novel being written in front of our eyes on TVF which should be copywritted and bound in a book and proudly placed at the mantel of the fiction section. The absolute unwillingness to accept the EC are not biased and instead based on facts and evidence does not fly with the PTP agenda. There whole ethos is based on evil subgroups that need to be demonized. A leader from the 1940's was quoted as saying that he needed the jews as without them he would have no one to demonize and to blame the faults of his group on. Well if the courts are proven not to be biased then the PTP only have the PDRC left to demonize and to blame for all the "in-groups" problems. That is just not acceptable to the PTP and its supporters. So to counter this they construct stories of DEM plots and weak links and even mention a coup. You could pick out a UDD supporter that has this fixation on coups. They flinch when a crow coups. Can't stand to listen to Alice Coupers music because it brings back scary memories of women in the streets handing flowers to soldiers for releasing them from a tyrant…..arghhh, scary stuff heay. Imagine……flowers!! and they say this with no proof, no links and no facts. Facts are the PTP's greatest enemy.

To keep this as a happy PTP agenda driven article this is not a judicial coup. This is a DEM plot. The EC are still biased. However when the EC rule against the PTP it is not a PTP plot it is a vicious biased drive by the evil EC to instigate a judicial coup.

That my friends is without a doubt, unequivocally, undoubtable and irrefutably the typification of PTP logic. It should be framed and placed in the museum of natural b*llshit. They have outdone themselves here and I will continue reading this OP to see if Alics Couper gets eaten by the dragon at the end.

So boring and long winded..... nothing here.

Wonderful and being a supporter of all the principles of democracy I respect your opinion. I will not demonize you, belittle you, be condescending towards you. I understand that within a democracy there are a wide variety of opinions and all must be heard lest democracy fail.

Thanks for the constructive feedback and I have taken it on board.

Edited March 29, 2014 by djjamie

[DerringDo]

Nice response ?

[Robby nz]

As I understand it from reading a bit more than the OP two of the people connected with his campaign read a letter in public that was written by someone else (a policeman).

This was deemed to be insulting to the other candidate even though what was written and said was true.

There you go, he is being suspended for someone else telling the truth.

One of the laws that must be changed in the reform process so that someone can not be slandered by the truth but only by lies told about them.

[Old Man River]

There are similarities with the cases of Sukhumbhand and YL. They are getting her for not stopping corruption when she had enough warning it might be going on although she, herself, wasn't involved. With Sukhunbhand, they are getting him for what his people might be saying at a speech, although he himself wasn't involved.

Both are not criminal actions and not impeachable, but both lose their political positions. For YL it depends when this case is final vis a vis the next election and for Sukhumbhand, since he doesn't appear he wants to run again, it is a moot point. ,

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

talk about grasping at straws, these are nothing alike. This is a case of what 2 other people actually said, he had nothing to do with it at all where as yl WAS THE HEAD OF GOVT AND THE RICE SCAM at the time it happened and she did absolutely nothing about it yet she was the one responsible for everything that happened. Trouble is she is that stupid she never sat in on the meetings or supervised what was happening like she was supposed to, she simply takes the reigns then lets everyone else do as they please so she is the one that is solely responsible . If she had of done her job this would not be happening but she has no idea what it is she is supposed to do and that is no excuse as she was the one that appointed herself as the head person and the buck stops with her, stupidity is no excuse.

YL should have the time to defend herself, based on normality when politicians are involved. She should never be treated any different.

While I think she is guilty, I think the charges (disregarding all your comments about stupidity about someone you don't know), should be based on negligence, not about not acting on hearsay. If you are going to charge her, then do it on the reasons you say, not on her not acting on rumors. There is a difference. Take the time to understand it (i. e. hold the emotion).

Sukumphand has been charged with even less. He hasn't been charged with not acting on hearsay,but not stopping something he never know was going to happen. It leaves me wondering, what the hell?

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[Old Man River]

There are similarities with the cases of Sukhumbhand and YL. They are getting her for not stopping corruption when she had enough warning it might be going on although she, herself, wasn't involved. With Sukhunbhand, they are getting him for what his people might be saying at a speech, although he himself wasn't involved.

Both are not criminal actions and not impeachable, but both lose their political positions. For YL it depends when this case is final vis a vis the next election and for Sukhumbhand, since he doesn't appear he wants to run again, it is a moot point. ,

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Things are certainly very different here.

Based on Sukhunbhand being got for what other people connected with said, when he wasn't even there, they can presumably get YL because some of her cabinet leaders and office said things at red shirt rallies, even though she wasn't there.

Mindboggling. Going down the plug hole at an ever increasing rate!

Yeh, and I have just written it in another response. YL was, In my humble opinion, responsible as Chairwoman of the Rice Committee for any corruption that occurred, whether she was involved or not involved, and as PM for no approved budget to pay the farmers, some having been unpaid since 2011. She is not stupid and is not a moron, as has been written. She is a clone as has been stated, and I believe has played her part well. Actually, I like her and hate to see things end this way.

Sukumbhand is being held responsible for what some in his campaign committee have said, although he was, apparently not aware (the court may see this differently). On this, I don't understand.

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[Robby nz]

Would be great if all politicians were suspended from duty if they had any court cases pending against them.

I suspect a list of who was left from the last lot would be shorter than the list of those suspended.

I propose that as one of the reforms.