Court sets PM ruling date

Paetongtarn to learn her fate on Aug 29

- CHAIRITH YONPIAM AEKARACH SATTABURUTH

The Constitutional Court has scheduled Aug 29 to deliver its ruling in the high-profile case concerning the leaked audio recording of a conversation between suspended prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.

The case centres on whether the conversation constitutes a serious breach of political ethics under the constitution.

The court yesterday began deliberations on the case that could determine the future of Ms Paetongtarn’s premiership.

The case stems from a petition submitted by the Senate speaker, invoking Section 170 and Section 82 of the constitution.

The key issue is whether Ms Paetongtarn’s position as prime minister should be deemed to have automatically terminated under Section 170 and Section 160 of the constitution, which pertain to the ethical standards and integrity required of ministers.

The petition was initiated by 36 senators, who jointly submitted their complaint to the Senate speaker, citing the emergence of the audio recording.

The recording, a private conversation between Ms Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, was leaked to the media on June 18 amid border tensions with the neighbouring country.