In a 5-4 vote, the Constitutional Court in Bangkok on Wednesday removed Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office for the appointment of a politician with a criminal record. The judgement came as a surprise to many political observers. Srettha did not attend the judgement, saying he had other appointments. Dozens of senators with close ties to the military had filed a lawsuit against the former property mogul in May. The senators accused Srettha, 62, of violating regulations by appointing the politician Pichit Chuenban, who has a criminal record, to a ministerial position in the governm…