Ex-GPO chief files lawsuit over unfair dismissal
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Former Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) chief Witit Artavatkun lodged a complaint with the Administrative Court yesterday asking for an emergency injunction over his "unfair sacking". He also called on the court to halt the process of appoin
Witit has filed the lawsuit against the GPO board, board chairman Pipat Yingseree, Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong and the Cabinet.
The former GPO chief asked the court to revoke the May 17 order that terminated his contract, and demanded that he be given his old job back.
Witit also urged the court to order the defendants to pay him Bt49,653,600 in compensation.
He also asked the court to set up temporary remedial measures during the trial, such as putting a halt to his sacking as well as the order to appoint Pissamorn Klinsuwan as acting GPO chief. The measures would also prohibit the defendants from proceeding with the selection of his successor and from telling the media that he was sacked because he failed to perform his duty.
Witit said he hoped to get justice from the court and be reinstated as GPO chief, as his contract still had two years.
He also plans to file civil and criminal lawsuits against the GPO board, Pipat and Pradit for allegedly trying to seek unlawful gains from the agency.
If the agency ends up getting a new chief who complied with their orders without asking questions, the state could suffer from irreparable damage, he said.
Fifty residents from Samut Sakhon’s Ban Phaew district came out to support him and presented him with flowers as he submitted the lawsuit to the court.
