Thailand PM acquitted of ethics breach, protestors unsurprised

Demonstrators began gathering at a busy junction in Bangkok shortly after the Constitutional Court delivered its judgement that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha did not breach ethics clauses in the nation’s constitution.

Bangkok: Thailand’s highest court on Wednesday acquitted Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of breaching ethics clauses in the country’s constitution, allowing him to stay in his job.

The Constitutional Court ruled on a complaint brought by the Pheu Thai Party, the largest opposition grouping in Parliament, that Prayuth had broken the law by continuing to live in his military residence after he retired as army commander in September 2014.

Read:|Pro-democracy demonstrations continue in Bangkok

The complaint alleged that he broke constitutional articles barring government ministers from receiving special benefits from state agencies or enterprises because that would amount to a conflict of interest. If a minister is found guilty of violating ethical standards, the official is to be disqualified and forced to step down.

The nine-judge panel agreed with an army explanation that retired senior officers such as Prayuth are allowed to stay in army housing in recognition of their service.

The ruling comes as Prayuth has been dealing with a persistent student-led pro-democracy movement that has been holding frequent well-attended rallies demanding that he and his government step down.

Meanwhile, pro-democracy protesters in Thailand reacted with resignation to the result of a court case on Wednesday that could have seen Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha being forced out of office.

Read:|Thai leader faces court ruling that could cost him his job

"It is what we expected," said 27-year-old protester Champo Noichan.

"The protests will become more and more intense because of the results of the court, and I think a lot of us know already what the result would be," said another protester.

The Prime Minister earlier spent part of the day on official business in Samut Songkhram, near Bangkok, looking unconcerned about the ruling.

AP