PM denies court interference

PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday rejected allegations by former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, insisting that he had never interfered in the judicial process as she alleged during her closing remarks to the Supreme Court yesterday. 
Yingluck earlier said in court that junta chief Prayut, who staged a coup to topple her government three years ago, had implied in a recent statement that she was guilty in the case relating to her government’s rice-pledging scheme, otherwise she would never have been brought to court. 
Prayut said yesterday the junta government had only provided testimony as witnesses for the plaintiff, which is the government itself.
“I never led [the decision] of the court. I don’t have to order them,” the premier said. “The judicial system is always independent. They have inspected the issues based on facts and they’ve finished.”
Yingluck is accused of negligence and malfeasance for allegedly ignoring corruption related to the rice-pledging scheme conducted while she was in office, despite a warning from the Office of the Auditor-General. 

She rejected the charges, saying her government had to implement the policy because it had been approved by Parliament and measures had been taken to prevent corruption in the scheme. 
By invoking his absolute power under Article 44 of the interim charter, Prayut issued an order in November 2015 regarding legal and disciplinary action against officials involved in managing government rice stockpiles and releasing stocks. 
Yingluck said the action had singled out policy-makers in her Cabinet. 
Meanwhile, Prayut suggested that there should not be public criticism regarding the case. “Let the court do its work. It [the court] has to follow legal procedures right away so please don’t criticise much,” he said.
Asked whether the final verdict against Yingluck later this month could spark political turmoil, Prayut replied: “It is not up to me. It’s up to people and politicians whether they want to return to the same old conflicts.”
Hundreds of Yingluck’s supporters yesterday gathered at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders where 300 riot police were deployed to maintain order. 

Security response
National police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda said he was not concerned about the political situation leading up to judgement day on August 25, when a verdict in the case is expected.
There have not been any reports indicating mass mobilisation on the day of the verdict, he said, but he added that deputy police chief General Srivara Rangsipramanakul had been assigned to evaluate the situation and decide whether to adjust security plans. 
The police chief said relevant agencies were communicating and building mutual understanding with the leaders of Yingluck’s supporters. “Intelligence officials are also monitoring [their movements],” he said.
Chakthip added that police estimated that fewer than 1,000 people had shown up yesterday in front of the Supreme Court to show support for Yingluck.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to rule today in the case involving Yingluck’s brother-in-law, former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat of the now defunct People’s Power Party, and his former deputies and top-ranking police officers regarding his government’s crackdown on People’s Alliance for Democracy protesters in 2008.
Somchai’s case is seen as an indicator for Yingluck, which could affect whether she will appeal her case if the court rules against her. 
However, there are different legal opinions about what could happen in such a scenario. Meechai Ruchupan, the chief drafter of the present charter, has said she would have a constitutional right to appeal, while the camp led by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has argued that she could appeal only after a new law on the court’s procedures comes into force.