Abhisit lodges lawsuit against Sukampol
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A lawyer for opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday filed a suit with the Central Administrative Court accusing Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat of illegally issuing an order to dismiss Abhisit as a military reservist and st
Those serving in the military reserve earn a state salary and pension. Sukampol endorsed a ministry committee’s decision to dismiss Abhisit on the grounds he used falsified documents to apply for the position as a military lecturer.
Abhisit’s lawsuit asserts that the Defence Ministry has no authority to dismiss a military official who has been decommissioned. Abhisit quit his military post 23 years ago.
Banthit Siripan, Abhisit’s lawyer, said he would this week file a complaint against the Defence Ministry panel for committing malfeasance over its decision to dismiss Abhisit as a reservist.
Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the party would list Abhisit in the censure motion because it is confident he had committed no wrong.
Army Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said that if the Defence Ministry’s order is legal, the Army would have to comply with it and strip Abhisit of his rank and salary because he could not object to an order from his superior.
He said the Army had nothing to do with the Defence Ministry’s move over Abhisit. “The issue is not yet final. There are other procedures to process so we have to wait for the final decision,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Ruangkrai Leekijwattana yesterday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission seeking a Constitution Court ruling on Abhisit’s qualification as an MP following Sukampol’s order to dismiss him.
He said seeking a Constitution Court ruling on the matter was of more import than the complaint filed with the Administrative Court in the case of former Pheu Thai Party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit, which led to his departure from the Cabinet.
