Former top judge asks His Majesty the King to overturn his dismissal
Play
Former Supreme Administrative Court president Hassawut Withitwiriyakul yesterday appealed to His Majesty the King to overturn the Administrative Court's decision to dismiss him.
Hassawut filed the petition with the Office of HM’s Principal Private Secretary, seeking justice after the court’s judicial commission on September 23 ruled that he should be sacked for his alleged involvement in a police promotion scandal.
Hassawut was accused of directing secretary-general Direkrit Jenkrongtham to type letters to the national police chief and his deputy, saying that Hassawut backed Pol Lt-Colonel Chutharet Yingyongdamrongkul as superintendent of Hua Mark Police Station.
The commission ruled that Hassawut’s conduct was improper.
Hassawut countered that the commission’s decision was unlawful because during its inquiry, the majority of the panel found him not guilty.
He also cited a quorum of the commission as unjustified. The commission ruled 6-0 to dismiss him but the majority must be seven votes because the commission has 13 members.
He said he would not appeal the dismissal with the Administrative Court because he felt he would not receive justice. His case is a national security issue.
“If judges do not receive justice from the Administrative Court, members of the public would unlikely receive justice from the judicial procedures of the court,’’ he said.
A group of government officials led by Benchaporn Suthamchai submitted an open letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Privy Council chief Prem Tinsulanonda to suspend the Administrative Court’s decision to dismiss Hassawut because it was unlawful and Hassawut had suffered undue harassment.
Hassawut had petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission to probe the court’s judicial commission’s decision, saying his dismissal was unlawful and unfair.
