Bangkok

Court acquits PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, allowing him to stay on at military residence

Published

6 months ago

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Caitlin Ashworth

PHOTO: Thai PBS World

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha will be staying in office and at his military residence. Bangkok’s Constitutional Court ruled today that the prime minister and former Thai general and commander of the Thai Army has not violated the charter by occupying a military-owned residence. The court says under military regulations, former officers can remain at their Army residence after their retirement at the discretion of the Thai Army commander.

Pro-democracy protesters have been pushing on Prayut to resign since July, along with calling for a rewrite of the 2017 Constitution together with reform of the government and role of the monarchy. Recently, Prayut was accused of violating the Constitution by staying at an official Army residence, rent-free, after his ‘retirement’ as General Prayut in 2014. Some say the tenancy represents a conflict of interest and the prime minister was abusing his power. A guilty ruling would’ve potentially put an end to his premiership.

Sections 184 and 186 of the Thai Constitution forbid a government minister from “receiving any special money or benefit from a government agency, state agency or state enterprise apart from that given by the government agency, state agency or state enterprise to other persons in the ordinary course of business.”

Prayut told the court that he was staying at the residence at the First Infantry Battalion of Royal Guards because his home in Baan Phitsanulok was being renovated and that his security team suggested he live at the Army residence for safety, a source told Nation Thailand.

Similar housing has been provided to former Army chiefs who are now members of the Cabinet, Privy Council and Parliament, according to the Royal Thai Army. They add that the residence was provided to Prayut because the prime minister “deserves the honour and security it provides.”

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

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News Categories: Bangkok Politics

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19 Comments

Toby Andrews

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 4:39 pm

Oh other ex-army pigs have their snouts in the same trough.
What a rotten corrupt gang of liars and cheats they are.
And violating the Thai constitution. There is no justification for what they do.

Reply
Timmytime

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 4:45 pm

Did ANYONE expect another outcome????. Pathetic to say atleast.

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 4:58 pm
  
  Well, what a surprise ….. just a little odd, though, that no-one said that “under military regulations, former officers can remain at their Army residence after their retirement” before …..
  
  Reply
Timmytime

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 4:48 pm

Did anyone actually expect another outcome????. The corruption and bullshit lies never ends with this government. Pathetic to say atleast.

Reply
Fabian

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 5:09 pm

Expect more anger among the people, smart move dinos.

Reply
- Preesy Chepuce
  
  Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 9:22 pm
  
  In the end, money comes from the West. The CCP only makes money because the West chooses to buy from it; if the West changes its mind and instead chooses to buy from another large country that’s eager for growth and investment, then the CCP’s money tap will dry up, and their loan shark diplomacy caravan won’t start because the tank will be empty. Destroying Hong Kong as a global financial centre is the least of their worries. Tokyo will be happy to replace Hong Kong, as will many other places. The Republic of China may end up in a stronger position against the CCP regime.
  
  Reply
Mike

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 5:32 pm

No, really!? The ex-army-general-cum-prime-minister has been acquitted of wrong-doing? Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…

The Thai people deserve better..

Reply
Jesus Monroe

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 5:38 pm

Right thats it. Im moving in too. Prayut your sleeping in the dog house tonight…………

Reply
Michael

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 5:48 pm

Thailand has once again proven to be a banana republic.

The only country in the world where “Regulations” are above the Constitution.

Reply
- Kim
  
  Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 7:44 pm
  
  It’s not the only country in the world where the constitution is applied as the powers that be, sees it fit. It does however sadden me and I hope my children’s generation will see some positive change.
  
  Reply
Poor Farang

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 7:57 pm

I don’t understand the trouble here. In Germany for example, all former Presidents (not just the Chancellors) keep their paid office including staff, Cars and drivers and security teams. Even if the stop working at all. And be a president in Germany is a part time job like selling Bratwurts in a Beerhouse. So what’s the shame on Thailand?

Reply
- Nipral
  
  Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 5:31 am
  
  …really “poor” !!!
  
  Reply
Issan John

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 8:42 pm

So Thailand’s been “proven” to be a republic?

“Again”?

Really?

Do you ever think before you comment?

Reply
Denis

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 11:01 pm

This is a good news…
The manipulations of opponents to destabilize the Prime Minister have crashed like a mosquito on a windshield.
The argument was fallacious, justice did its job.
Great luck for Thailand, which above all needs stability in these difficult times.

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 12:17 pm
  
  Whether you agree with the politics or the outcome, it was anything but “fallacious” as a point of simple fact.
  
  He was living in an Army quarter he was believed to not be entitled to, which had previously been justified on the grounds that the house was for “visitors” while his house was being re-decorated, even though the PM has an official residence provided, with security, near parliament, which he didn’t want to use because it was “too big”.
  
  Apparently, though, “under military regulations, former officers can remain at their Army residence after their retirement” even though no-one appeared to know that before (or at least no-one mentioned it) and it seems a rather odd arrangement as if they did there wouldn’t be anywhere for those serving to live.
  
  I’m not suggesting the acquittal was right or wrong, just that it’s a bit odd that no-one seemed to know what the “regulations” were until after the case was brought … Ho hummm …..
  
  Reply
Malc Thai

Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 12:08 pm

So does this mean everyone that retires from the military can stay in their houses

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 12:24 pm
  
  “at the discretion of the Army commander”, apparently. ….. or in a house they weren’t living in but the Army just has ‘spare’, apparently …..
  
  Reply
harry1

Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 12:23 pm

so a army regulation supersedes the constitution laws ?

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 12:33 pm
  
  That does seem to be the case, even if it’s “at the discretion fo the Army commander”, since it doesn’t seem to be “given to other persons in the ordinary course of business” ….. but I’m not a lawyer so that’s for the Court to decide (as they have).
  
  Reply

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Caitlin Ashworth

Caitlin Ashworth is a writer from the United States who has lived in Thailand since 2018. She graduated from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies in 2016. She was a reporter for the Daily Hampshire Gazette In Massachusetts. She also interned at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia and Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.