Former Thai PM Yingluck asks fans not to go to court on verdict day

By APD Writer Chen Jiabao

BANGKOK, Aug 24 (APD) -- Yingluck Shinawatra, the former prime minister on trial on Thursday has called on her supporters to stay home to cheer for her, instead of gathering to the Supreme Court for safety.

Yingluck thanked her fans for their concerns and sympathy on troubles she was suffering from on her Facebook page, saying that she would like her supporters to follow the verdict of her rice-pledging case at home on Aug 25 to avoid "unexpected disturbance" from people will ill intentions.

She said the supporters arrivals would not be the same as previous times, as they could no longer greet and meet her amid the government's tightened security.

Yingluck was charged of criminal negligence in implementing a rice subsidy program that is estimated to have cost the government as much as 566.6 billion baht(88 U.S dollars).

The Supreme Court will give a verdict over her rice pledging scheme on Friday. If found guilty, she may face up to a 10-year jail term.

The government will deploy about 4,000 police, supported by 20 riot-control vehicles around the court's compound. It's estimated that about 3,000 Yingluck's fans would to turn up.

Traffic near the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions will be closely regulated.

Due to expectations of a huge crowd on August 25, the government has called for Yingluck’s supporters to refrain from causing any chaos or violating the law, and have prohibited organized mobilization.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)