Thailand’s constitutional court removes PM Shinawatra for misconduct

(Web Desk): Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over a leaked phone call with a former Cambodian leader.

According to international media reports, the Thai Constitutional Court found the ousted Prime Minister guilty of misconduct over a phone conversation with Cambodian leader Hun Sen and removed her from office.

Reports say that Shinawatra is the fifth Thai Prime Minister since 2008 to be dismissed by court order.

In its ruling, the nine-member Constitutional Court stated that 39-year-old Shinawatra failed to uphold moral standards during her telephone conversation with Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

The court further stated that Shinawatra prioritized personal interests over national interests during the June phone call.

In the leaked audio, the ousted Thai Prime Minister can reportedly be heard referring to Hun Sen as “uncle” despite an ongoing border dispute with Cambodia, while scolding a senior Thai army commander and calling him an enemy.

It is worth noting that the Constitutional Court had suspended Shinawatra on July 1 and ordered a full investigation into the matter.