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Paetongtarn in Court Showdown
On Thursday, ousted Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was the center of attention as she attended a hearing at the Constitutional Court regarding a leaked recording of a conversation between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
The suspended premier, who turned 39 on Thursday, arrived at the court at 9.30am but made no comment to waiting reporters, some of whom wished her happy birthday, before going inside.
She was accompanied by her husband Pitak Suksawat, sister Pinthongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong, and Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary-general to the Prime Minister.
For the press, a screen displaying a live video of the courtroom proceedings was installed outside the chamber. This was an unusual step for the Constitutional Court. The session commenced at 10:30 a.m.
Ms Paetongtarn answered judges' questions for around an hour and a half, but the court has issued an order barring any reporting of what was said during the hearing.
The court recorded video of the testimony but it was not made available on the public feed.
The court ordered the parties involved to submit their closing statements by Monday, Aug 25, instead of Aug 27 as scheduled earlier. It scheduled oral statements, discussions and voting as originally planned for Aug 29 starting at 9.30am, with the reading of the ruling set for 3pm.
Ms Paetongtarn was suspended from duty by the court on July 1 over the leaked recording of the private phone call with Hun Sen.
The complaint against the prime minister was filed by a group of 36 senators, who said she should be removed from office on ethical grounds for her handling of the phone call.
The conversation, which emerged on June 18 as border tensions flared into open hostilities, captured Ms Paetongtarn criticising the commander of the Second Army Region and appearing conciliatory towards Hun Sen's demands.
The release of the video by Cambodian sources sparked outrage, leading numerous Thais to doubt her allegiance.
On Aug 14, Ms Paetongtarn submitted her defence to the court, in which she claimed the remarks she made to Hun Sen in the phone call were part of her negotiating technique, not an improper offer of favours.
Low profile
The prime minister had stayed out of the public eye on Wednesday, the day before she and National Security Council secretary-general Chatchai Bangchuad were due to testify.
Ms Paetongtarn's absence from public functions on Wednesday sparked fresh speculation about her political future. The Pheu Thai Party has repeatedly denied reports that she was considering resigning.
In the morning, she did not attend any activities in her capacity as culture minister, while later in the day, she was not seen at the ministry as scheduled.
On Tuesday, she took leave from the cabinet's weekly meeting for the second consecutive week.
Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the United Front to Defend Thai Sovereignty and one of Ms Paetongtarn's most vocal critics, said a decent person would face the allegations head-on.
Quoting a Thai saying, Jatuporn said, 'Genuine gold won't be damaged by fire.'
He also dismissed rumours the court ruling in the case had already been settled in her favour by a 5-4 judges' vote.
Jatuporn warned, however, that both this case and the lese-majeste trial of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, with a ruling due on Friday, will inevitably reshape the kingdom's politics.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).Thus the article Paetongtarn in Court Showdown
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