Newin Chidchob, a core leader of the Bhum Jai Party, said yesterday he would go to court tomorrow to hear the verdict of the rubber-saplings case, which involves 44 defendants, including former ministers in the Thaksin Cabinet.
The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders is scheduled to hand down its verdict on the case at 2pm tomorrow. The court postponed reading its ruling on August 17, when a high-profile defendant, former commerce minister Adisai Bodharamik, was absent, saying he was on a medical trip to the US. Other defendants among the 44 are former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak and deputy finance minister Varathep Ratanakorn.
The media has reported that the court will definitely issue its verdict tomorrow even though some defendants are not expected to turn up.
Newin said he had been staying at his Bangkok home and had not run away to the provinces or absconded from the country.
Newin and another core leader of the coalition Bhum Jai Thai Party, Sora-at Klingprathum, would definitely show up at the court, a source said. "They will not run away because if they do, they will have to keep running for the rest of their life,'' the source said.
All top Bhum Jai Thai Party leaders will also be present at the court to give their leaders moral support.
However, Newin's supporters - known as the blue shirts - will not mobilise at the court. If Newin and Sora-at are acquitted, the party cannot yet celebrate because both face a number of other graft cases, including the two-and three-digit lotteries, the source said.
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