NEW DELHI: A Thai judge on Thursday suspended Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin over the visit of a former lawyer with a criminal previous to a supervisory position.
This came after 40 legislators contacted Srettha asking for his resignation as head of state after he removed Pichit Chuenban from his government next month. The senators claimed that Pichit’s interview was against the constitution and that he lacked the dignity and moral standards necessary to hold a supervisory position.
Pichit has long been a close friend of the Shinawatra community, whose parties have won all but one vote in the last 20 years.
Following an alleged bribe of court officials with 2 million baht ($ 55, 216 ) concealed in a paper grocery bag, he was imprisoned for six months in 2008 for contempt of court. Following the incident, his legal license was suspended for five decades.
Pichit resigned on Tuesday in an effort to remove Srettha from the court system.
( With inputs from agencies )
