Ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra came to the Supreme Court on Friday for the first hearing of a trial in which she was charged with dereliction of duty in the rice-pledging programme.
If she is found guilty, she could face a jail term up to 10 years.
She arrived at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions at Government Complex in Bangkok at 8.30am.
The former PM was greeted by a crowd of supporters and some of her former cabinet ministers and Pheu Thai party members, including Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Yanyong Phuangrach and Vorachai Hema, Thai media reported.
Barriers were put up amid tight security provided by 100 policemen. Ms Yingluck's supporters were not allowed to hold placards.
Saneh Maneechote, a rice farmer from Bang Lane, Nakhon Pathom province, gave her an ear of withered rice, a symbol of his plight. He urged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-ocha to also look after farmers, following aid for rubber planters announced this week.
Asked whether she was worried about new prosecutor witnesses who had never testified to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Ms Yingluck said she was hoping for the best. (Story continues below)
Ms Yingluck listens as Mr Saneh gives her an ear of withered paddy, a symbol of his woes. (Photo by Kitja Apichonrojarek)
"We're trying our best and are ready to bring our witnesses in April."
Four prosecution witnesses will be heard from 9.30am to 4pm on Friday.
Nipon Poapongsakorn, a former president of the Thailand Research and Development Institute, will give the overall picture of the programme.
Noppadon Thipayawan, a journalist, was next to take the stand, with his collection of news reports on the programme.
Prajuck Boonyoung, deputy auditor-general, will follow, with a focus on the letters sent to Ms Yingluck by the auditor-general to warn her about the extent of the damages and the auditor-general's opinions on the programme.
Jirachai Moontongroy, a deputy permanent secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, will then testify on the damages caused by the programme.
The court agreed to hear a total of 14 witnesses presented by public prosecutors, starting on Friday. The next hearings for the prosecution witnesses are slated for Feb 17 and 26 and March 4 and 23.
Other prosecution witnesses to take the stand later include Varong Dejkitvikrom, a former Phitsanulok Democrat MP who closely monitored the programme, and high-ranking officials at the commerce and finance ministries.
Ms Yingluck's legal team called 43 witnesses in her defence including herself, scheduled to be heard on Feb 17 and 26 and March 4 and 23.
The former PM was accused of malfeasance under Section 157 of the Criminal Code and Section 123/1 of the 1999 Anti-Corruption Act. Prosecutors filed the charges against her on Feb 19 last year as recommended by the NACC.
They accused her of failing to stop the rice-pledging programme, which caused 500 billion baht in damages to the country.
Shortly after the NACC found her case had ground, she was also retroactively removed as prime minister by the junta-appointed lawmakers. The result was she was banned from politics for five years.
