Court suspends PM Paetongtarn from office in Hun Sen phone call case
The nine Constitutional Court judges resolved unanimously to accept the senators' petition against Ms Paetongtarn continuing as premier for consideration and temporarily suspended her from office by seven votes to two
Ms Paetongtarn remains in the cabinet because in Monday's royal approval of her new cabinet she was given the dual role of minister for culture. The royal command was published on Tuesday morning.
The petition, initiated by 36 senators, asked the court to investigate a leaked audio recording of a phone conversation between Ms Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, and sought her suspension pending the court's ruling.
In the conversation Ms Paetongtarn was heard making derogatory remarks about the commander of the 2nd Army Region, branding him an adversary, as well as showing a submissive tone towards Hun Sen, with her signalling a readiness to comply with the Cambodian strongman's demands.
The 2nd Army supervises the border with Cambodia from Sae Kaeo to Ubon Ratchathani that includes the four contested areas at the centre of the current dispute between the two countries.
She stands accused of lacking qualifications and integrity under Sections 160 (4) and (5) of the constitution. The complaint also alleges that she lacks honesty and engages in conduct that constitutes a grave breach of ethical standards.
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