Bangkok: "Attorney Kaew," formally known as Dr. Montchai Jongkairattanakul, has resigned from his position within the Lawyers Council of Thailand, aiming to underscore his integrity and sincerity in light of recent incidents. At 1:00 PM, Dr. Montchai provided a statement to the media, confirming his resignation from his role as Vice Chairman of the Legal Knowledge Dissemination Committee. He emphasized his commitment to integrity as the driving force behind his decision.
According to Thai News Agency, further clarification was sought from Dr. Peerapat Foythong, Vice President for Academic Affairs and spokesperson for the Lawyers Council of Thailand under Royal Patronage. Dr. Peerapat clarified that Lawyer Kaew was not an Executive Committee member but was involved in one of the sub-committees. His resignation pertains specifically to his involvement in this sub-committee.
The legal proceedings involving Lawyer Kaew are bifurcated into a criminal case related to harassment and a separate inquiry into his professional ethics. The ethical review process allows for a complaint to be lodged by a victim to the Bar Association if professional ethics are believed to have been breached, or the Ethics Committee may independently assess the matter based on available evidence.
Penalties for ethical violations are categorized into three levels: probation, suspension of the license for up to three years, or removal from the lawyer's registry. Importantly, the disciplinary process remains unaffected by Lawyer Kaew's resignation, as the Lawyers Council continues to oversee the conduct of over 90,000 lawyers across the nation. Until proven guilty, Lawyer Kaew maintains his innocence, with any potential penalties to be aligned with the gravity of his conduct.