Court of Justice sec-gen Sarawut Benchakul said three court officials were appointed as a fact-finding committee, and they must report their findings to the agency within 15 days. He also announced that the judge who shot himself, Khanakorn Pianchana, is now in stable condition.
Although Sarawut said the committee will conduct its work impartially, he dismissed allegations of meddling in the justice system in yesterday’s news conference.
Sarawut said the Court of Justice is “fair and independent.” He also said senior court officials always respect verdicts reached by the judges under their supervision.
Khanakorn shot himself in the chest on Friday inside a courtroom in Yala province, moments after acquitting five men of murder.
In a written statement leaked to social media after the shooting, Khanakorn said he was pressured by his supervisor to find the men guilty despite a lack of concrete evidence.
Sarawut said the judge is now out of ICU. He said he has visited Khanakorn in hospital, but said the pair did not discuss the grievances that allegedly prompted Khanakorn to shoot himself.
A statement by the hospital said Khanakorn suffered injuries in his spleen.