CDC spokesman: Constitutional court has constitutional power to handle graft cases

BANGKOK, 10 February 2016 (NNT) – Constitution Drafting Committee spokesman Udom Ratamarit said the constitutional court has the power to tackle corruption allegations involving any members of a cabinet, elected lawmakers and senators as far as the draft constitution is concerned.

He suggested that the public leave it to prosecuting process and evidence for the handling of corruption cases by the constitutional court despite its extended authority.

The draft constitution also has set procedures for the constitutional court’s ruling to prevent possible undue persecutions, he said.


-- NNT 2016-02-10

This description of Constitutional Court power is vague and contributes to public confusion as to the content of the yet undisclosed final draft of the constitution. An act that Meechai would want placed in the constitution as a crime!

That aside, if the CC will be granted prosecurial authority under the draft constitution, it loses its independence to then judge such cases. It has been in prior constitutions that the CC 's authority alone to deny hearing of cases for ruling or decide rulings against the prosecution (ie., not guilty) that served to discourage possible undue prosecutions. It seems Meechai wants to essentially make the CC into a permanent junta cabel.

This description of Constitutional Court power is vague and contributes to public confusion as to the content of the yet undisclosed final draft of the constitution. An act that Meechai would want placed in the constitution as a crime!

That aside, if the CC will be granted prosecurial authority under the draft constitution, it loses its independence to then judge such cases. It has been in prior constitutions that the CC 's authority alone to deny hearing of cases for ruling or decide rulings against the prosecution (ie., not guilty) that served to discourage possible undue prosecutions. It seems Meechai wants to essentially make the CC into a permanent junta cabel.

Yup. In my view, no branch of the Supreme Court should be a court of first instance. The potential for abuse is unlimited.

"power to handle graft cases".

Such headlines show the stupidity of the Thai lawmakers. The word "Graft" is an English word that means to labour and physically work hard. If any Thai lawyer had any intelligence then any case based on this word would and should be thrown out. Is it a crime to work hard anywhere in the world? I don't think so! Thais don't understand what real corruption is because the're all too busy being corrupt and blame each other for being so! This is why their politics will always be such a mess!!!

"power to handle graft cases".

Such headlines show the stupidity of the Thai lawmakers. The word "Graft" is an English word that means to labour and physically work hard. If any Thai lawyer had any intelligence then any case based on this word would and should be thrown out. Is it a crime to work hard anywhere in the world? I don't think so! Thais don't understand what real corruption is because their all too busy being corrupt and blame each other for being so!!!