Thai premier faces possible court order to leave office

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha (AP)

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who took power in a 2014 coup, faces the possibility of being ordered by the country’s highest court to step down after exceeding the time he is legally allowed to stay in office.

A ruling in Mr Prayuth’s favour is considered likely but risks invigorating a protest movement long opposed to his government because he came to power undemocratically.