Impeachment Looming?

A senate inquiry into the Constitution Court could end in impeachment for the judges, says Senate Speaker Manoonkrit Roopkachorn.

He said he has already found evidence that the judges breached supreme law in the hidden assets case against Thaksin Shinawatra. Judges failed to give individual opinions before reaching a common verdict, as required by law, he said. Inquiries by senate whips into that breach could lead to thorough investigation and subsequent impeachment of the judges.

Talking on a radio programme run by Watchdog Co., Maj-Gen Manoonkrit said Article 267 required each judge to have his own judgment ready before voting. Some judges still had not finished their written opinions. Court president Prasert Nasakul had allowed them more time after giving the not guilty verdict against the prime minister. "The individual judges were supposed to finish their own opinions and verbally announce them before the entire body of the court made a ruling," he said.

Obscurities surrounding Mr Thaksin's acquittal have plunged the court into a crisis of confidence. Former interior minister Sanan Kachornprasart, found guilty last year of lying about a 45-million-baht loan, challenged judges to swear before the Emerald Buddha that they had acted with impartiality and integrity.

Rumors were spreading days before the verdict that judges had been bribed for 600 million baht to pervert the course of justice. Judges dismissed the allegations as groundless.

Suchinda Yongsunthorn, one of the eight judges who acquitted Mr Thaksin, said he would go to the temple only if Maj-Gen Sanan would also be there to swear he really borrowed 45 million baht from a car dealer.