The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions has dismissed former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's petitions to delay the trial and to reject the prosecution's additional documents and witnesses in the rice-pledging case against her.
The court announced its decisions on the first day of the hearing of the case against Ms Yingluck, who is accused of dereliction of duty and failing to stop corruption and losses in the rice-pledging scheme implemented by her government.
In the first petition, Ms Yingluck asked the court to delay the trial, arguing that the case was not within the jurisdiction of the court's criminal division for holders of political positions and should rightfully be in the Administrative Court.
The court threw out this petition on the grounds that the law and Administrative Court procedures do not allow the Administrative Court to handle criminal cases.
In the second petition, Ms Yingluck asked the court to reject additional documented evidence and witnesses submitted by the prosecutors.
The court also rejected this request, saying that although the law requires it to adhere mainly to the investigation report of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, it has the authority to call more witnesses for examination, and the defendant has the right to present witnesses and evidence to disprove the prosecution's case.
The court adjourned the hearing and scheduled Oct 29 for the plaintiff and the defendant to together set the dates for the examination of witnesses.
Ms Yingluck arrived at the court about 8am. She was greeted by a large number of supporters there to give her moral support. They handed her bunches of flowers while chanting the word "fight, fight."
Many leading members of the Pheu Thai Party and former MPs were also present at the court. They included Pol Lt Gen Viroj Pao-in, the acting Pheu Thai leader, Phumtham Vechayachai, the acting secretary-general, Chusak Sirinil, chief of the party's legal staff, Varathep Rattanakorn, Worawat Eua-apinyakul, Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal, Nattawut Saikuar and Worachai Hema.
Ms Yingluck said she had submitted to the court lists of documents and about 70 witnesses for court examination.
She said three days earlier she had petitioned against the prosecution's having filed about 60,000 more pages of documents and 23 more witnesses for examination in addition to the earlier ones.
Ms Yingluck said this could put her at a disadvantage as she had never seen them before.