The Pheu Thai Party has asked Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for a Constitutional Court ruling on an organic law that will allow the trial of politicians in absentia, including party founder and fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra.
Anusorn Iamsa-ard, acting deputy spokesman, filed the request at the Government House complaints centre on Thursday. The party questions the legality of the organic law on criminal procedures for holders of political positions.
He said the party had no other channel to seek a Constitutional Court ruling other than through the prime minister or the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Chusak Sirinil, head of legal affairs for Pheu Thai, said on Thursday the law went against the rule of law, exempted the statute of limitations and would take retroactive effect.
The NLA passed he bill on July 13. It has yet to be promulgated by being published in the Royal Gazette.
The law states the statute of limitations will not expire while a suspect is a fugitive and on the run. It also states the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions can order a trial to proceed in the absence of a defendant.
If the law is enacted, it could trigger the resumption of four suspended court cases against former prime minister Thaksin.
They relate to alleged corruption in the 4-billion-baht loan by EXIM Bank to Myanmar, the two- and three-digit lottery scheme, the amendment of satellite and mobile phone concession contracts, and the Krung Thai Bank loan scandal involving the Krisda Mahanakorn group.
Thaksin left Thailand in 2008 just before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced him in absentia to two years in prison after finding him guilty of conflict of interest in the sale to his then-wife of four blocks of land covering 33 rai in Bangkok's prime Ratchadaphisek area.
Thaksin has lived in self-imposed exile abroad since getting bail to attend the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.