Thai court removes PM Yingluck Shinawatra from office

Eurasia News

BANGKOK: The Thailand’s constitutional court on Wednesday removed the country’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office over charges of abuse of power.

In its ruling, the court said that Yingluck had abused her position by transferring the country’s National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri to another post in 2011 so that a relative could benefit from related job moves.

“I deny the allegation… I didn’t violate any laws, I didn’t receive any benefit from the appointment,” the premier said when she appeared in court to testify over charges of abusing power on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Thai cabinet appointed Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan as a new caretaker prime minister of the country.

“The cabinet has agreed to appoint Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan to act as caretaker prime minister,” a deputy prime minister Phongthep Thepkanjana said.