Today, the verdict of former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck

Thailand's Supreme Court will rule this afternoon on whether ousted former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is guilty of "dereliction of duty."

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra greets supporters after leaving the Supreme Court in Bangkok on July 21. Photo: AFP

If found guilty, as AFP reported, Thailand's first female prime minister Yingluck could face 10 years in prison and a ban from politics.

The result would deal a heavy blow to the Shinawatra dynasty in Thailand's dangerous political game that has spanned more than a decade, including two coups, deadly protests, a series of legal cases and asset seizures.

In 2014, Ms. Yingluck launched a rice subsidy program, pouring money into rural areas that supported the Shinawatra family’s political career. However, Ms. Yingluck was convicted after causing billions of dollars in losses.

AFP reported that police had gathered around the Supreme Court in northern Bangkok late on August 24 to set up security barriers and install security cameras in anticipation of the largest gathering of Yingluck's supporters since the coup.

In a Facebook post the same day, Ms Yingluck asked her supporters to stay home to avoid incidents caused by people "with evil intentions against the country and us".

Ms Yingluck has repeatedly denied the charges, saying she is innocent and the victim of "a sophisticated political game".

A Thai political expert at Naresuan University, Paul Chambers, said a guilty verdict for Ms. Yingluck could revive the vitality of the Red Shirts - Shinawatra family supporters across Thailand.

"Such a verdict would bring Shinawatra supporters closer together to oppose the military government," said Mr. Chambers.

According to Tuoi Tre