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BANGKOK, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Bangkok governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Boribhat was on Thursday suspended from duty for an unspecified period of time under absolute order of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Given the so-called Mor 44 (article 44) absolute power of Gen Prayut under an interim constitution of 2014, the Thai leader suspended M.R. Sukhumbhand's duty for the indefinite period of time, pending further investigation into corruption charges against the Bangkok governor.
He has been charged with alleged involvement in the graft over an estimated one million U.S. dollars in procurement of a LED lighting system shown at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's headquarters during New Year season earlier this year.
The Office of Auditor General has conducted probe into the BMA's procurement of the lighting system on basis of the allegations that it was "unusually costly". Deputy Bangkok governor Pusadee Tamthai currently becomes acting governor in place of M.R. Sukhumbhand who left for Seoul on an official mission on Thursday.
