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By APD Writer Chen Jiabao
**BANGKOK, Aug 24 (APD) -- **The Supreme Court of Thailand on Thursday is bracing itself for the verdict against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's rice-pledging case on Aug 25 with tightened security.
The court said it has been fully prepared to deliver two verdicts on Friday. So far on Thursday night, 400 police have been standby at the court. About 4,000 police, supported by 20 riot-control vehicles, will be deployed around the court's compound on Friday to prevent those will ill intension to stir up disorder.
The Supreme Court has designated a 15,000 square-meter area as a no entry security zone which will be off limits to non-essential people. A special 1,600 square-meter area has already been prepared for Yingluck’s supporters which will be able to hold approximately 5,000 people.
A tight security cordon will become effective on Friday after which the Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units will carry out an inspection of the entire compound.
The court said the verdict will not be televised.Mobile devices are not permitted in the court. The court allows only 100 people, with prior registration, to attend the verdict.
Friday marks the judgment day of Yingluck, the former minister on trial. She has been accused of negligence in her handling of a multi-billion dollar rice subsidy scheme, under which the government bought rice from farmers at inflated prices.
If a guilty verdict goes, she would become Thailand's first woman politician facing a jail term up to 10 years.
A huge crowd of her supporters, numbering 3,000, are expected to show up on Friday.
Yingluck's attorney said the former prime minister has confirmed that she would arrive at the court before 9:30 a.m. on Aug 25. It remains unknown whether she will reach out to shake hands with her fans like previous times, as a special zone is set up for them.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
