Santi Thakral
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Santi Thakral (Thai:สันติ ทักราล) (born 1942) is a member of the Privy Council of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. Prior to becoming Privy Councillor, he was President of the Supreme Court of Thailand.
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[edit] Early life and education
Santi Thakral was born in the northern Thai province of Phrae, the youngest son of an Indian Sikh and a Thai. He studied at Bangkok's Assumption College and Assumption Commercial College before completing his LL.B. at Thammasat University. He also has an M.A. in Political Science from Thammasat University. He has received training from the Academy of American and International Law at Southern Methodist University, the National College of State Judiciary at the University of Nevada, and the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders.
[edit] Career in the Thai judiciary
Santi became a judge in 1968, and served as judge in the Provincial Courts of Rayong, Chiangmai, Phuket, Thonburi. He was appointed Deputy Chief Justice of the Second and Fourth Regions. He also worked in the Court of Appeal and the Central Tax Court. He became a judge of the Supreme Court in 1979[1].
After the 1992 coup d'état, the rebel military regime put Santi in charge of seizing the assets of 13 allegedly corrupt politicians of the former elected government.
In 31 July 2001 he was appointed by a unanimous vote of the Judicial Commission as the President (Chief Council) of the Supreme Court (Thai:ประธานศาลฎีกา). The appointment was made without debating his qualifications for the position[2]. He retired a year later in 2002.
[edit] Accused of trafficking of children and women
Thailand's judiciary is generally considered to be independent but corrupt[3]. Santi has been accused of conspiring with Supreme Court Justice Prasert Kienninsili, Supreme Court Secretary Jiranti Havanon, and Central Juvenile and Family Court Chief Justice Deungman Silpa-archa in trafficking in women and children and obstructing victim recovery efforts[4]. The charges have not been formally investigated, because all public complaints of judicial misconduct must be referred to the Supreme Court for final determination. The power of the Supreme Court itself is technically overseen by the independent National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC). However, the President of the Supreme Court chairs the Selection Committee of NCCC Commissioners.
[edit] Appointment as Privy Councillor
Santi was appointed a Privy Councillor of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2005. During the height of protests against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, General Suchinda Kraprayoon (head of the 1992 coup) suggested that Santi was the best possible mediator between Thaksin and the People's Alliance for Democracy[5].
[edit] Orders and decorations
- Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
- Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
