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Thai court throws out case versus Democrats
Source: Agencies |
December 10, 2010, Friday
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THAILAND'S Constitutional Court dismissed a second charge of illegal funding against the ruling Democrat Party yesterday, removing the threat that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva might have to step down.
The party was let off the hook because the Election Commission president did not follow correct procedures in filing the case, stemming from allegations the party received an illegal donation ahead of a 2005 election.
It was the second time in less than a month that the Democrats had escaped funding charges due to technicalities related to the way the EC had filed cases.
A guilty verdict in either case could have led to the party's dissolution and a political ban on Abhisit and several ministers.
The pre-trial acquittal is likely to draw more criticism from political opponents, in particular the "red shirt" protest movement, which claims the judiciary of bias in favor of Thailand's mostly pro-Democrat establishment.
The court said the EC chief had not personally made the final call, as required by law, on whether the commission thought the party was guilty of unlawfully obtaining a 258 million baht (US$8.6 million) donation from a Thai cement maker, TPI Polene Pcl.
"The Election Commission did not have the authority to agree or disagree," a judge said in reading the decision.
Analysts said it removed one element of risk to government stability in Thailand.
The party was let off the hook because the Election Commission president did not follow correct procedures in filing the case, stemming from allegations the party received an illegal donation ahead of a 2005 election.
It was the second time in less than a month that the Democrats had escaped funding charges due to technicalities related to the way the EC had filed cases.
A guilty verdict in either case could have led to the party's dissolution and a political ban on Abhisit and several ministers.
The pre-trial acquittal is likely to draw more criticism from political opponents, in particular the "red shirt" protest movement, which claims the judiciary of bias in favor of Thailand's mostly pro-Democrat establishment.
The court said the EC chief had not personally made the final call, as required by law, on whether the commission thought the party was guilty of unlawfully obtaining a 258 million baht (US$8.6 million) donation from a Thai cement maker, TPI Polene Pcl.
"The Election Commission did not have the authority to agree or disagree," a judge said in reading the decision.
Analysts said it removed one element of risk to government stability in Thailand.
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