Mr Thaksin's sustains his popularity from abroad through social media The former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, faces losing more than $2bn (£1.3bn) of assets if a Supreme Court ruling goes against him. The funds were frozen after Mr Thaksin's elected government was overthrown in a military coup in 2006. Security forces are on high alert amid government predictions of violence by Mr Thaksin's red-shirted supporters if the court decision goes against him. Mr Thaksin remains hugely popular in Thailand and denies any wrongdoing. However, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), which leads the red-shirts, has said it has no plans for any demonstration until mid-March. He says he will continue his political fight against the "military-bureaucratic elite" that deposed him - with or without his fortune. High security Tensions in Thailand remain high, however, with an unexplained small explosion on the weekend and predictions of violent provocation from both sides in a long-running political battle. Tens of thousands of extra police have been placed in and around the capital, and in areas of the north-east of the country where some of Mr Thaksin's supporters are based. Local media have been predicting huge disruptions, counting down to what they call "judgement day". Red-shirted supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra want their leader home But some government and opposition figures have sought to calm fears. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of national security, tried to play down the wider significance of the case, saying it concerned only Mr Thaksin's wealth. "Thaksin must respect and accept the rule of law as well as other Thai people. It's not possible for the whole Thai nation to respect the law but not Thaksin," he said. Mr Thaksin's supporters have said they resent being painted as a violent rabble and insist they are fighting for democracy and against military-backed government. "It [a judgement] would not put an end to Thailand's crisis because now Thaksin's supporters, the Red Shirts - the UDD - they have evolved into their own force to be reckoned with," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist from Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. The money The judges will look at whether Mr Thaksin illegally parked his fortune with family members because he was not allowed to hold company shares while prime minister, and whether his administration implemented policies to benefit his family's businesses. They will consider whether telecoms liberalisation measures unfairly benefited the country's main mobile phone service provider, then controlled by Mr Thaksin's family. And they are looking at whether he unfairly promoted a US$127 million low-interest loan to neighbouring Burma to benefit a satellite communications company also controlled by his family. The BBC's Rachel Harvey says the court will be deciding on whether or not Mr Thaksin abused his power during his time as prime minister. The panel of nine judges will decide whether or not there is evidence of a conflict of interest, and how much, if any, of the more than $2 bn of funds should be seized by the Thai state. They will begin reading their ruling at 1300 local time (0600 GMT) and are expected to finish hours later, after the Thai stock market closes ahead of a three-day holiday weekend.
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Thaksin (right) meeting with Donald Rumsfeld in 2005. Thailand's Supreme Court today ruled that the family of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra be stripped of 46.3 billion baht (US$1.4 billion) in frozen assets, more than half of a contested $2.3 billion fortune.  According to the court, the seized assets were illegally gained while Thaksin was Prime Minister; specifically, his familial involvement and connections with Shin Corporation.

In a statement released by the court, the judges said that Thaksin had adjusted government policies to favor telecommunications businesses, including Shin Corporation, a large telecommunications company owned by Thaksin, and his family, and sold to a Singapore investment firm in 2006.  Additionally, Thaksin was alleged to have deposited shares held in Shin Corporation with family members whilst in office - a move to avoid, under Thai law, illegally holding any company stock while Prime Minister. Additionally, he was found to have  unfairly promoted a $127 million loan to Burma – benefiting a satellite communications firm controlled by his family.

In a response from an undisclosed location outside Thailand, Thaksin contested the ruling, claiming the case was politically motivated and that, "the court was used to get rid of a politician."  In his remarks, he said that he came by his wealth legally, and he would continue his fight against both the ruling and the party that ousted him in 2008.  In Thailand, Thaksin's red-shirted supporters publicly opposed the verdict; although, no significant disturbances have been reported despite government warnings over the possibility violence. Instead, protesters say they plan a mass demonstration against the ruling sometime in March.