Court president suspended amid probe into conduct
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SUPREME Administrative Court president Hassawut Withitwiriyakul has been suspended from duty pending an investigation into allegations that he pushed for the promotion of a police officer who is close to him.
The Office of the Supreme Administrative |Court issued an order on Monday suspending Hassawut from duty and having him temporarily replaced by second vice president Chanchai Sawaengsak.
The order came after Administrative Court judges last year called for an inquiry after a report that court secretary-general Direkrit Jenkrongtham typed letters to the then-national police chief and his deputy saying that Hassawut backed Pol Lt-Colonel Chutharet Yingyongdamrongkul for the post of superintendent at Hua Mark Police Station.
Chutharet is a friend of Hassawut’s nephew.
The office then appointed a fact-finding committee, led by Supreme Court judge Noppadon Hengcharoen, to see if the media report was true. Other members of the panel include Administrative Court judges Worawit Kangsasithiam, Warawut Siriyutwattana.
The panel presented the results of their investiga?tion to the court office, which then issued a secret order on March 17 to appoint another panel to see if there were grounds to dismiss Hassawut.
Most judges ruled on Monday to have him suspended from duty pending a further probe into whether Hassawut committed conduct unbecoming of the court and if his continued service would erode confidence in the court.
Hassawut can object to the order by submitting a letter with the Central Administrative Court within 90 days after receiving this order.
