The Constitutional Court may suspend Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai from office if it accepts for trial the case for his disqualification the Election Commission will submit next week, according to an election commissioner.
Commissioner Boonsong Noisophon said on Monday the EC was writing up its official finding on Mr Don's status, all commissioners were expected to sign their names this week and it would be sent to the Constitutional Court next week.
If the court accepted the petition for trial, it would have the authority to suspend the minister from office pending the ruling. That would be for the court to decide, Mr Boonsong said.
If the court later disqualified the minister, he would lose his position and could not return to the cabinet for two years, in accordance with the constitution, he said.
The EC reportedly voted 3:2 against Mr Don after it was found his wife had failed to disclose her ownership of more than 5% of a private company when the couple declared their assets and liabilities. Section 187 of the 2017 charter prohibits a minister or his spouse from having such a large holding.
Mr Don took up his post before the promulgation of the current charter.
The minister said on Monday that he had not yet received any notification in writing from the EC.
The stocks in question were shares that his wife inherited from her father about 37 years ago. They were not concessionary shares but shares held within the family and unlisted on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, he said.
The other stockholders were 6-7 relatives of his wife and the shares had been untouched since they were inherited.
Mr Don said that once the EC formally notifies him of this matter he was prepared to present the facts in full detail, according to procedure.