BANGKOK: Thailand's Constitutional Court on Wednesday gave crisis-mired Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra more time to submit her defence against allegations of abuse of power which could see her removed from office.
The premier, who is facing a cascade of legal challenges to her tenure as well as months of sometimes violent street protests, must give her defence by May 2, the court said in a statement.
The case pivots on the transfer of then-national security chief Thawil Pliensri after Yingluck was elected in 2011.
A group of senators filed a complaint to the court over Thawil's transfer, saying it was carried out for the benefit of Yingluck's party.
Under the Thai constitution -- drawn up after a 2006 coup that ousted Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra as premier -- such an offence could lead to her sacking.
The court agreed to Yingluck's request for a 15-day extension -- which she made last Friday -- and said it "will hear four more witnesses on May 6", including Yingluck and Thawil.
But the statement did not indicate when the court may deliver its ruling.
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