The 15-day period for filing a statement expires tomorrow, reports the Bangkok Post. The court has not yet responded to the request or specified how much more time it would give, said Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary-general to the Prime Minister’s Office.
“We’ve requested an extension, but by how long is up to the court,” Prommin said. “It’s within our rights to do so, as we couldn’t prepare the statement in time.”
The court suspended Ms Paetongtarn from prime ministerial duties on July 1. It acted after a group of 36 senators submitted a petition accusing her of violating ethical standards over her remarks in a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
The youngest daughter of billionaire and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Paetongtarn faces disqualification and removal from office if the court finds her guilty.
The court case is the biggest threat yet to Ms Paetongtarn’s nascent political career and her less than year-old government. She came to power in August last year after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was ousted in a similar ethics-related case over the appointment of a cabinet minister with a criminal record.
Ms Paetongtarn’s coalition government was plunged into a crisis when Hun Sen leaked the recording of his June 15 conversation with her. Critics said she appeared to be siding with “uncle” Hun Sen and criticising the army while discussing solutions to a dispute with Cambodia.
Conservative-leaning activists and opponents of the government subsequently staged the biggest anti-government protest in years to demand her ouster.
The suspended premier also faces a separate investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission over the same allegations.
If the panel determines that there is sufficient evidence, it may formally charge Ms Paetongtarn and refer the case to the Supreme Court for adjudication.
Past rulings by the court in similar cases have led to lifelong bans on Thai politicians from holding or running for public office.