According to the Bangkok Post, Ms. Paetongtarn and a key witness, Secretary General of the National Security Council Chatchai Bangchuad, were summoned to the Constitutional Court at 10:00 a.m. on August 21.
Previously, on August 20, Ms. Paetongtarn suddenly disappeared from public events, did not attend any activities of the Ministry of Culture - where she is serving as Minister - and did not appear at the Ministry headquarters as scheduled. This is the second consecutive time she has asked to be absent from a weekly cabinet meeting, sparking much speculation about "silent war" before going to court.
However, Xinhua News Agency reported that the suspended Thai female prime minister arrived in court in Bangkok on the morning of August 21.
The court will today hear a leak of a phone call between Ms. Paetongtarn and President of the Cambodian Senate Hun Sen on June 18 - at a time when Thailand - Cambodia border tensions escalated into conflict.
During the phone call, Ms. Paetongtarn's voice, believed to be from the Thai Military Region 2 Command, criticized and expressed a concessionist attitude towards Mr. Hun Sen's request. The recording released by Cambodia shocked many Thais, causing doubts about her loyalty.
In her explanation sent to court on August 14, Ms. Paetongtarn affirmed that the words in the phone call were just nedocational warfare, with no intention of assigning national interests.
According to the official announcement, the Thai Constitutional Court will allow a limited number of direct attendees, only broadcasting the opening and closing parts on television. The entire process of questioning witnesses will not be broadcast live, only published static images inside the courtroom.
The August 21 trial is considered a major turning point, not only for Paetongtarn Shinawatra's political career, but also for her position as a powerful person in Thailand, as the final ruling scheduled for August 29 could reshape the entire country's politics.
On the occasion of Paetongtarn Shinawatra's 39th birthday on August 21, her younger sister - Pintongta Shinawatra - posted a series of family photos on social media. In the photo, the Shinawatra family, including former Prime Minister Thaksin, visited Wat Ratchabophit Pagoda.
Ms. Pintongta praised her sister's contributions to the country, writing: "I believe that my pure will and dedication will protect me from overcoming all obstacles. Happy birthday, I always love you".
