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Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej added salt to Thailand's political wounds by saying in an interview in China that he would be detained at the airport upon his return to Bangkok. He was implying that there might be a coup against his government. Since he is now safe and free in Bangkok, we can conclude that Samak no longer has any credibility left.

Don't ever mention a coup again. It is outmoded. The Thai military learnt a dear lesson with the November 2006 coup. It is not a solution for the political future of this country.

The current deep-running political conflict can only be resolved by the rule of law. Now the judicial review is under way. A number of high profile cases are going to be tried by the Thai courts. Once the courts hand down their verdicts, Thai politics will move forward for the better, no matter whether we like the verdicts or not.

All eyes are now zooming onto the Ratchadaphisek land deal, in which Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra have been charged with abusing their power. Pojaman purchased a prime land plot from the Financial Institutions Development Fund, a financial arm of the Bank of Thailand, with Thaksin's consent. Thai law prohibits public officeholders from directly engaging in financial transactions with the state.

Thaksin's case will go to trial today. The court verdict should be handed down some time in September of this year. Thaksin might have a tough time prevailing in this corruption case. If he were to lose in this high-profile corruption case, his political future would come to an end.

Suriyasai Katasila, one of the core leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, said over the weekend that friends of Thaksin in the military might stage a coup to help him escape from the court's verdict. Suriyasai's comment was highly speculative. It is not easy for the military - either friends or foes of Thaksin - to stage a coup under the present circumstances.

Thaksin must have some sleepless nights if he looks at the fates of his top lieutenants. Yongyuth Tiyapairat, the former House Speaker, will be facing a verdict from the Supreme Court's Office of Political Holders today in an election fraud case. He has already been given a red card from the Election Commission. If the Supreme Court finds him guilty, it would have negative consequences for the People Power Party, which might face dissolution, as Yongyuth is the party's deputy leader.

Three of Thaksin's lawyers - Pichit Chuenban, Supasri Srisawat and Thana Tansiri - have been sentenced to six months in jail for contempt of court. The contempt of court charge relates to Bt2 million stacked in a snack bag that was handed to Supreme Court officials. A bribery case is being launched against them. The three represented Thaksin and Pojaman in the Ratchadaphisek land deal.

Jakrapob Penkair, a Thaksin favourite, is now facing a lese majeste probe over remarks he made. Jakrapob lost his Cabinet job as PM's Office Minister.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's former personal lawyer, is also in hot water over Preah Vihear Temple. He is accused of conceding Thailand's sovereignty by allowing Cambodia to go ahead and file a sole application - rather than a joint application - for the Khmer temple to be on the World Heritage List. The Constitution Court will rule today whether his signing of a joint communiqué with his Cambodian counterpart on Preah Vihear violates the Constitution or not. Noppadon's political future is also very bleak.

If the fate of Thaksin's top lieutenants provides any clue, we are more inclined to believe that Thaksin would have an uphill battle winning the numerous corruption cases against him in the courts.