Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's judgement day is due this Wednesday. But the big question mark which has been lingering in the minds of many people is: Will she emerge from hiding and show up at the court? Her loyal supporters will certainly be there whether she shows up or not.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon told the media upon his return from a business trip in Britain on Thursday that, although he had no further information about the whereabouts of Ms Yingluck, he personally believes she will, again, skip the final hearing this Wednesday when the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions is scheduled to read its verdict against the former prime minister. She is charged with dereliction of duty over her supervision of the rice pledging scheme, which caused massive damage to the state.
Gen Prawit, the man in charge of the country's security affairs, must have some clues about whether Ms Yingluck will show up or not -- if not about her whereabouts. But his comment and his visit to Britain which coincided with the presence of Thaksin Shinawatra in Britain have fuelled speculation he quietly met the fugitive ex-premier and they might have struck an undisclosed political deal. Gen Prawit denies the claim.
Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post.
Like many among us who are not privy to inside information about Ms Yingluck's whereabouts, I doubt, from my own gut feeling, that she will ever return to hear the verdict.
To me, it does not make any sense at all. Why come back when she does not know if she will be found guilty or not guilty?
Isn't the 42-year jail term imposed on former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom on corruption charges related to the rice pledging scheme, also by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, scary enough?
Don't forget Mr Thaksin himself ran away ahead of the Supreme Court's reading of a verdict against him and his wife, Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, on the Ratchadaphisek land deal scandal.
There are those who believe Ms Yingluck can pull a big surprise -- like the one she pulled when she disappeared mysteriously before the Aug 25 judgement day -- by staging a comeback to face the court fearlessly, regain the trust of her supporters and win the praise of her detractors. But is that worth the risk, especially for a woman who is used to a life of luxury?
While it is still unclear whether Ms Yingluck will show up, the police appear to have made headway in their investigation into the ex-premier's great escape.
Three policemen have been identified for abetting her escape from Bangkok although over 10 police officers, including a retired police general, are suspected to be involved in the plot.
One of the cars, a Toyota Camry, thought to have been used in the escape bid, was confiscated.
The three officers are Pol Col Chairit Anurit, deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 5; Pol Snr Sgt Maj Pornpipat Makboonngam and Pol Lt Col Samit Chai-inkham, the latter two are attached to Nakhon Pathom province.
What is puzzling about the policemen's involvement in Ms Yingluck's escape is the statement from deputy police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul that the three did not break the law for abetting her escape because the court had not issued a warrant for her arrest when she failed to show up on Aug 25.
So, the officers could not be held in custody as no charges were brought against them.
Moreover, disciplinary action cannot be taken against them either until it is proven they skipped their duty in accompanying Ms Yingluck to the Cambodian border in Sa Kaeo province.
As far as the police are concerned, that means the officers, for the time being, are as clean as a white sheet of linen although they have been ordered transferred from their original command posts.
Pol Gen Srivara's explanation leaves me speechless. May I ask what will happen if other police help criminal suspects escape police arrest or tip off suspects before a raid?
Are they considered as having done nothing wrong because there are no arrest warrants against the suspects yet?
If junior police officers cannot be held liable for Ms Yingluck's escape, what is the point of going after the real mastermind -- a retired police general? It looks like the entire police probe into this affairs is a big farce. I wonder, who wrote the script?