Bangkok: Somchai expressed confidence that the Constitutional Court's recent ruling would prompt the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to initiate legal proceedings against Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra. The court's decision, which saw a majority of 6 to 3 judges ruling that Ms. Paethongtarn's ministerial role had ended per the Constitution, is binding on all governmental bodies.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Prommin Lertsuridej, Secretary-General to the Prime Minister, and his legal team exited the court without commenting. However, Senator General Sawat Tasana, one of the petitioners, emphasized that the court's decision was grounded in the facts. He noted that the verdict was based on Ms. Paethongtarn's adherence to her official duties and regarded the ruling as a valuable precedent for future governance.
In an interview, former Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn highlighted the ethical breaches involved, citing the Prime Minister's apparent dishonesty and failure to uphold national honor. He pointed out that the Constitutional Court's decision detailed the Prime Minister's personal interests during communications with former Prime Minister Settha Thavisin, which favored foreign proposals over national interests. Somchai stressed that the NACC and other entities would continue to pursue criminal charges, as the ruling addressed the concerns raised in various complaints.
Mr. Somchai also mentioned the pending cases related to ethical violations filed by current senators and other public members. He affirmed that the NACC was expected to expedite the criminal proceedings. When asked about potential political activities following the case conclusion, Somchai refrained from commenting, citing a scheduled meeting to discuss the court's ruling.