Court hears complaint against defence minister

The court concluded the hearings yesterday but did not announce its verdict. 

Defence permanent secretary General Sathien Permthong-in and his deputy General Chatri Thatti filed a case against Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, accusing him of unlawfully transferring them to inactive posts at the Defence Minister’s Office on August 27. The transfer came after leaks were made to the media that the defence minister was “trying to meddle” with the appointment of a new permanent secretary. 

Sathien and Chatri were represented by their lawyer Thanapon Choochayanont, while Sukampol had Maj-General Pinit Chatsathienpong, assistant chief of the Defence Ministry’s Secretariat Department, and Colonel Panu Phromdirek from the Judge Advocate-General’s Department testify for him.

After the hearing, representatives from both sides left the courtroom through a back door to avoid the media.

Meanwhile, Sukampol yesterday chaired a meeting of the Council of Defence to discuss the selection of a new permanent secretary.

The chiefs of the three armed forces who are council members were present at yesterday’s meeting. 

Sukampol nominated General Thanongsak Apirakyothin, assistant Army chief, as the next permanent secretary to replace Sathien, who is to retire at the end of September. The meeting's participants agreed to the defence minister's nomination, which will then be forwarded to the prime minister for approval.

Sathien’s other deputy who is now the caretaker permanent secretary, General Withawat Rachatanant, who was earlier expected to attend the meeting, did not show up. He said later that he did not want to cause any legal problems over the military transfer because there were no clear-cut regulations on whether he could attend the meeting on Sathien’s behalf. 

The permanent secretary for defence is an ex-officio member of the council.