Dozens of police will be deployed next week at the Supreme Court where red-shirt supporters are expected to show up for a ruling in the rice-pledging case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, city police chief Sanit Mahathavorn said.
Ms Yingluck was a no-show on Aug 25, prompting the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to issue a warrant for her arrest, confiscate her 30-million-baht surety and reschedule the ruling hearing to Sept 27.
Ms Yingluck, who was accused of dereliction of duty for failing to stop losses and corruption which crippled the programme and cost the state hundreds of billions of baht, is widely speculated to have fled the country.
Speaking after a joint meeting with security agencies including the Special Branch Police and the army, Pol Lt Gen Sanit said one or two companies of police officers from the Metropolitan Police Division 2 will step up security in the court's compound on Sept 27. He said the security plan is similar to that used on Aug 25 when Ms Yingluck's supporters turned up at the Supreme Court to give her moral support, but on a smaller scale.
According to Pol Lt Gen Sanit, the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) does not require reinforcement from other security agencies because the chance of Ms Yingluck showing up is very slim.
The security preparation for next Wednesday is still necessary, he said, as about 300 supporters of Ms Yingluck reportedly plan to gather at the court to hear the ruling.
The city police chief said police will hold a meeting with court officials again to discuss and rehearse security measures.
Pol Maj Gen Panurat Lakboon, deputy chief of the MPB, said the police will report the meeting's findings to the Supreme Court and explain the security management plan.
He said the police are also waiting for the court's instructions about restricted areas.
A source at the Special Branch Police said of the 300 red-shirt supporters expected to turn up on Sept 27, most are from Bangkok. The source said the army is also assessing the situation and believes it will be a gathering of Ms Yingluck's "genuine" supporters.
Ms Yingluck was greeted by supporters at every court appearance and about 1,000 of them turned up for each of her last two court appearances.
Ahead of the Aug 25 ruling, the MPB prepared 2,500 officers to beef-up security, increased the number of officers in and around the court to 4,000 and put 20 riot-control vehicles on standby after 2,000-3,000 fans were expected.