The Administrative Court Tribunal has voted 8:3 to suspend Hassavut Vititviriyakul, the president of the Supreme Administrative Court, over a police promotion scandal, the first time in judicial history that the holder of a top position has been suspended.
The court tribunal on Monday spent more than six hours deliberating the issue before suspending Mr Hassavut with immediate effect over a request by Direkrit Jiankrongtham, secretary-general of the Office of the Administrative Court, that a police officer be promoted.
Two informal letters, signed by Mr Direkrit, were leaked to the media last year.
The first, dated Oct 25, 2013, was addressed to Pol Gen Ek Angsananond. It said the court's president would like to "support" Pol Lt Col Juthares Yingyongdamrongkul, a friend of his nephew, for promotion to the position of superintendent because "he is a good person and has enough seniority to take the post".
The letter asked Pol Gen Ek to advise what the court's president, or Mr Direkrit, should do to achieve this.
The other letter was dated Jan 7, 2014 and addressed to the national police chief. It sought support for the appointment of the officer to position of superintendent because "he is a close friend of a nephew of the court's president and has helped the president on several occasions".
Mr Direkrit earlier admitted to Isara News that he had written the two letters, which were distributed widely on the internet as proof of how judges intervene in police transfers.
A source said the court tribunal was authorised under the Act on Establishment of Administrative Courts and Administrative Court procedures to suspend any accused judicial official pending the investigation of an alleged offence, if it finds that the state could be damaged if the official remains in the office.
The majority of the court tribunal members voted to suspend Mr Hassavut - four Supreme Administrative Court judges: Charnchai Sawaengsak, Visanu Varanyu, Somchai Ngarmwongchon and Varawut Siriyutwattana; three lower Administrative Court judges: Sirikarn Panpithak, Panlop Rattanachantra and Kiarttiphum Saengsasithorn; and a cabinet representative, Kukiart Sunthornbura.
Administrative Court judge Noppadon Hengcharoen, head of the inquiry panel, was not present during the vote as he is on an overseas trip.
Three tribunal members in the minority were - Vorapot Virarutpit and two representatives from the National Legislative Assembly, Thammasat University vice-rector Udom Rat-ammarit and former Nan governor Veeravit Veevattanavanit.
The source said the legislation states that the deputy Supreme Administrative Court deputy president with the most seniority will be appointed to replace the court president.