Thaksin ready to accept the verdict on asset case

BANGKOK, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra said Friday through online video link that he and his family are ready to cope with whatever outcome of the verdict, as the Supreme Court is reading the ruling on his 76-billion-baht ( about 2.3 billion U.S. dollars) frozen asset case.

Addressing his supporters, the opposition Puea Thai members, the self-exiled former prime minister said he and his family "are prepared with the imminent situation", and hoped everyone be rational when listening the ruling.

Thaksin's video speech was about five minutes long.

Starting at about 1:40 p.m. Friday, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions is reading its verdict on Thaksin's case. The nine judges are expected vote after the reading and give the final sentence whether the huge amount of frozen assets of the Shinawatra family should be unfrozen, confiscated or partially confiscated.

In his speech, Thaksin said he would like all Puea Thai members to continue working for the country and its people.

Meanwhile, the pro-Thaksin movement United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) core leader Jatuporn Prompan on Friday called on the red-clad supporters to be rational while listening to the Supreme Court's verdict on the assets seizure case, and confirmed that the UDD will not organize protests on Friday.

Thaksin's administration was toppled in 2006 by a military coup and after the coup, the military-regime-appointed Assets Examination Committee ordered a freeze on the domestic bank accounts held by Thaksin and his wife Pojaman, claiming Thaksin had become unusually wealthy while in office.