The juvenile observation director in Phichit province was suspended after the Criminal Court sentenced her to five years in jail for misuse of a government vehicle.
A source said Sahakan Phetnarin, director-general of the Justice Ministry's Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection, last Thursday suspended Nusara Saennam, the director of the centre in Phichit, who was found taking a government car for personal use.
According to the suspension order, Nusara was sentenced by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 6 to five-year imprisonment for vehicle misuse during her previous office as the director of the juvenile observation and protection centre in Phetchabun province.
Although the case had not been finalised, the ruling of the court of the first instance affected public confidence, read the order.
Nusara had been the director in Phetchabun during 2008-11 and there was a complaint that she had ordered a vehicle of the juvenile observation and protection centre in Phetchabun to be used to transport her between her office and hotel daily. Both places are about one kilometre apart.
She was also accused of using the vehicle for her personal affairs.