A number of her supporters were seen queuing up on Chaeng Wattana Road, waiting to be allowed to enter the Supreme Court compound. Close to a 1,000 people who managed to enter the compound, most of them were clad in black clothes, waited at the venue. But unlike in the past, they were not allowed near the court. They were restricted to a space in front of Building A and on Chaeng Watana Road.

Police officers, who have been deployed there since last night, took turns in speaking to them through a loud-speaker from a truck on how to conduct themselves around the court besides also entertaining them.

Around 7am, former deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol, one of the defendants in the alleged fake government-to-government rice deal arrived at the court. The two panels of judges hearing two separate cases were also seen arriving at almost the same time.

Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, the main defendant in the G-to-G deal on the rice-pledging scheme, was seen arriving at the court.

Boonsong, while refusing to anticipate the ruling, said he may ask for bail before proceeding to appeal to the court.

He seemed in good spirits, greeting and chatting with people from the Pheu Thai, including Yingluck’s sister Monthathip Kowitcharoenhul, who arrived at the Supreme Court to provide moral support to her sister while waiting for the court to open.

Boonsong said that among 28 defendants, he only had consulted his former deputy Poom. Asked if the court would read the ruling if all defendants did not show up at the court, he said it would be for the court to decide.

Monthathip was non-committal on the Shinawatras’ political future, only saying, “As a sister, I want to Yingluck to be happy.”

She refused to be drawn into speculation on whether she will be the next Pheu Thai leader, saying she should let more capable people to do the job.

Around 8pm, security officers opened the entrance to the court, allowing people who signed up in advance including the media to go inside. Defendants in the G-to-G case and Pheu Thai people also lined up to get inside.

Seen in the area were red-shirt figure Nattawut Saikua, former finance minister Kittirat Na Ranong, Chaturon Chaisang, Pongthep Thepkanjana among others.