Bangkok: Dr. Ming and Senator Sawat arrived at the Constitutional Court to hear the verdict in the audio clip case. Interviews were still suspended amid tight security.
According to Thai News Agency, reporters described the atmosphere at the Constitutional Court in the afternoon before the court began deliberations to read its verdict on the petition submitted by the Senate President. The petition requested the Constitutional Court to rule, pursuant to Article 170, paragraph three, in conjunction with Article 82 of the Constitution, on whether the ministerial status of Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister, has terminated in accordance with Article 170, paragraph one (4), in conjunction with Article 160 (4) and (5), regarding the audio clip of a conversation between Ms. Paethongtarn and Samdech Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Senate.
Relevant parties began arriving at the court in the afternoon. Among them was Senator General Sawat Tasana, one of the petitioners, who signed into the courtroom but declined to give any interviews to the media. Two representatives from the Lawyers Council also attended the hearing to follow the Constitutional Court's ruling today.
Mr. Somchai Saengkaew, a former senator, and Mr. Khomsan Phokong, a lawyer who requested to listen as observers, declined to give any interviews to the media, as they did not want to infringe on the Constitutional Court.
Dr. Prommin Lertsuridej, Secretary-General to the Prime Minister, who was assigned to hear the Constitutional Court's ruling, arrived at the court at approximately 2:25 PM and remained silent on any media interviews. Dr. Prommin remained cheerful.
Reporters further reported that police maintained tight security during the afternoon. Metropolitan Police deployed officers around the area in front of the Constitutional Court office and the entrance to the courtroom. Steel barriers were erected to prevent unauthorized persons from entering the courtroom. Televisions were placed at various points in front of the courthouse to allow the media to monitor the audio and visual signals of the verdict being read. A system test was conducted prior to the court's scheduled sitting at 3:00 PM.