BANGKOK, May 14 (TNA) – Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday ordered Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong to stop overseeing the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) amid an inquiry into alleged interference in a Senate election probe.
The court, in a unanimous decision, said there were grounds to suspect Tawee had intervened in the DSI’s work regarding the election of senators. He was also suspended from his role as vice-chairman of the special case board.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who was also named in the petition, was not suspended.
The court is considering a petition from senators who argue that the ministers’ decision to classify certain alleged offenses related to the Senate vote as special cases constituted meddling in the Election Commission’s duties.
The petitioners contend this amounted to intimidation and undermined the separation of powers.
The court has asked relevant agencies to submit further information within 15 days.
While finding no reason to suspend Phumtham, the court said Tawee’s direct authority over the DSI as justice minister created sufficient grounds for his temporary removal from overseeing the agency and the special case board, pending a final ruling. -819 (TNA)
