The court will also set dates for the hearing of witness testimony, Norawit Lalaeng, a lawyer for Ms Yingluck, said yesterday (Oct 28).
Ms Yingluck has been charged with dereliction of duty and abuse of authority in failing to stop graft and losses in the rice-pledging scheme implemented by her government.
On Aug 31, the court dismissed the former premier’s petitions to delay the trial and to reject the prosecution’s additional documents and witnesses in the case against her, a ruling that Mr Norawit said might create an unfair setting for his client.
The court ordered the plaintiff and the defendant together review their witnesses and documents every Wednesday, to see whether they are eligible to be considered in the trial, until the next hearing scheduled for Oct 29.
Mr Norawit said together, the two parties had more than 100 witnesses and a large amount of documentation to be presented in court.
He accused the government of expediting legal procedures against Ms Yingluck to give her little time to defend herself. He called on the government to ensure justice for his client.
“The case is important as it involves many factual and legal issues, and all concerned parities need to proceed with discretion. The prime minister [Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha] wants the authorities to speed up the case but he must ensure fair treatment and justice [for Ms Yingluck],” Mr Norawit said.
This case is the first in which a Thai head of government has been prosecuted over the implementation of a project to aid farmers, he said.
“More importantly, [Ms Yingluck] is the only government leader facing prosecution despite similar policies having been implemented by past governments as well as the current administration to help farmers.”
Local media said some members of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship have begun to post messages on social media encouraging supporters to wear red and show up at the court this morning to boost Ms Yingluck.
Earlier, messages were circulated in the red-shirt media urging UDD members to wear red on Nov 1 in support of Ms Yingluck.
UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan has denied the UDD is not behind the move, warning it may be a conspiracy aimed at opening the way for a crackdown on red shirts.
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