Thai PM found not guilty in conflict of interest case

[December 02, 2020]  By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Panarat Thepgumpanat

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's constitutional court unanimously ruled in favour of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Wednesday in a conflict-of-interest case brought by opposition politicians.

Prayuth was accused of a conflict of interest because he remained in military housing despite his retirement from the army in 2014, months after overthrowing an elected government. Prayuth has said he needed to stay there for security reasons.

The court said the former army chief's stay in the residence was in line with the army's rules, and the safety of the prime minister and his family was the government's priority.

The not guilty verdict for Prayuth means that he can stay in power.

"The plaintiff did not commit acts that constituted conflicts of interest. He did not seek personal gains, whether directly or indirectly, nor breach ethics," a judge said. "His ministerial post therefore does not end according to the constitution."

The court's decision comes with tension high after months of protests to demand Prayuth's removal - a call he has rejected.

Prayuth had said he would respect the court's decision even if it ruled against him. He could not be reached for comment afterwards.

Hours before the verdict, he told a supporter while on a trip outside Bangkok: "It's about destiny. Everything has been pre-destined. I'm not too worried. I believe in my own goodness."

Protesters and other critics accuse Prayuth of engineering an election last year to keep hold of power. He says the vote was fair.

Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha attends an agreement signing ceremony for purchase of AstraZeneca's potential COVID-19 vaccine at Government House, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Bangkok, Thailand November 27, 2020. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa/Pool

A protest movement that began in July to seek Prayuth's removal and to call for a new constitution has also broken taboos by also demanding reforms to the monarchy to curb the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

"The fight is not over. When he can do no wrong, this country is headed to a breaking point," said protest group Free Youth in a tweet following the verdict.

Later on Wednesday, thousands of protesters gathered at one of Bangkok's busiest intersections to criticise the court ruling.

They sang the national anthem while showing the three-finger salute they have adopted from the movie "The Hunger Games".

Many clapped and cheered as one protester impersonated Prayuth on a stage set up to look like a court room. "The court verdict shows that this country no longer has rule of law. If there is no justice, don't ask for peace," the protester said.

(Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Alex Richardson)

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