Sirichai rejects talk he will be kicked out
Turns down offer of new advisory post
Appeals Court president Sirichai Watthanayothin yesterday brushed off media reports he would lose his job following a scandal that cost him his nomination as Supreme Court president.
Mr Sirichai is thought to have been offered a job as adviser to the Supreme Court president after missing out on nomination for the post.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, he questioned the legality of the advisory post while insisting he should continue serving as the Appeals Court president.
He said the advisory job would lead to a number of questions as it was not included in the law governing the Courts of Justice (CJ) affairs, and it might even cause a dispute over responsibility.
Citing tradition, Mr Sirichai said he should remain in the job as Appeals Court president and could not be moved to a lower position. He said previous judges who missed out on Supreme Court president remained in their posts.
It was Mr Sirichai’s second press conference in about a week to address questions surrounding the CJ withdrawal of his nomination.
After the CJ meeting on Tuesday voted to endorse the nomination of Supreme Court vice-president Cheep Julamon as Supreme Court president, it reportedly decided to set up a committee to look into Mr Sirichai’s alleged inappropriate conduct that prompted the CJ sub-panel to rule him unfit and throw out his nomination.
Incumbent Supreme Court president Weerapol Tangsuwan was expected to sign an order appointing the judges to sit on the committee.
The panel would have 30 days to take statements and Mr Sirichai could also give statements and clarification. The process is preliminary to establishing facts.
Based on media reports, the CJ initially decided t o appoint Mr Sirichai as the Supreme Court president’s adviser effective on Oct 1, a fresh post created in the wake of his failure to get the nomination.
One of the reasons behind the withdrawal of his nomination was reported to be his decision to refer a drugs case, which reached the Appeals Court, for second and third opinions, as though he was attempting to secure an opinion he would find agreeable.
Mr Sirichai said he had not been informed of the CJ’s decision to probe his alleged improper conduct but insisted he had nothing to hide.
Asked if he would resign from the judiciary or lodge a protest if he was transferred, he said it was too early to decide.
“I don’t want to say anything that might cause damage to the institution [CJ]. If it happens to me I don’t know what I would do,” he said.
Asked about the prospect of serving as a senior judge, he said he would have to apply for such a job.
Mr Sirichai brought to the press conference a trophy he won for his work at the Appeals Court and discussed how he tried to ease the backlog at the court. He said he worked to the best of his ability to serve the public and uphold justice, earning his appointment as Appeals Court president.
The media reported the CJ would meet on July 17 to find a candidate to replace Mr Sirichai as Appeals Court president.