<div> <div>While the court last week ruled on the first royal defamation case under Rama X, the case began against the youngest lèse majesté suspect ever. Another three crucial verdicts will be read on 25 August.</div> </div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><img alt="" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4364/35877086234_96f10a69e2_o.jpg" /></div> <h2>Last week prosecutions</h2> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div> <div>Two remarkable lèse majesté cases occurred during the past week. </div></div>

<p>Police have charged 21 van drivers under the land transportation law for driving Yingluck Shinawatra’s supporters to the Supreme Court. &nbsp;</p> <p>On 7 August 2017, 10 van drivers reported to Tungsonghong Police Police Station in Bangkok to hear the charges against them,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brighttv.co.th/content/103460">Bright TV reported</a>. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Key points of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s closing statement on rice-pledging scheme case delivered to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on 1 Aug 2017. The key points of the statement, both in Thai and English, were sent to the media by Ms Yingluck’s lawyers team.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4300/35910856570_79f95f15e8_o.jpg" /></p>

<p>Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thursday his government was right to confiscate the bank accounts of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as it was a separate matter than her malfeasance trial, which has yet to render a verdict.</p>

<div>After a relatively long absence, a pop music band has made a stunning comeback with a music video mocking the junta. The MV neatly sums up Thailand’s politics during the past week.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>For the sake of a peaceful life, artists in Thailand usually stay away from politics. </div>

<p>The Supreme Court has fined two of Yingluck’s supporters 500 baht each for staring at public prosecutors during the trial on the rice pledging scheme corruption case.</p> <p>On 19 January 2017, judges of the Supreme Court ruled to fine ML Mingmongkol Sonakul, a member of the aristocracy and film director and writer, and Tas Wanpharuehat 500 baht each.</p>

<div> <div>The junta head has confirmed the allegation that police officers followed the former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during her New Year holiday, saying it is normal for her to be followed.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 3 January 2016, Yingluck <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Y.Shinawatra/photos/a.106877456023385.4057.105044319540032/1453858854658565/?type=3&amp;theater">posted on her Facebook page</a> that she was closely followed by police officers and administration officials in plainclothes during a New Year trip with her family in Northern Thailand. </div></div>

<p>Thai military summoned a villager in the northern province of Chiang Mai for posting a picture of a red bowl with the signature of the controversial former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on it and accused her of sedition.</p>

<p>The Governor of Roi Et Province in Isan, the northeast, has barred civil servants and village chiefs from distributing Pheu Thai Party calendar with images of Yingluck and Thaksin Shinnawatra, the two ex-Prime Ministers, while the Thai junta said it is up to the Governor what to do.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court has once again prohibited Yingluck Shinawatra, the former elected Prime Minister from the Pheu Thai Party, from travelling abroad.</p> <p>According&nbsp;<a href="http://news.voicetv.co.th/thailand/299601.html">Voice TV</a>, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions has denied a request from Yingluck Shinawatra to travel Japan with Supasek Amornchat, her teenage son, between 15 and 25 December 2015 during his school break.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court has prohibited Yingluck Shinawatra, a former elected Prime Minister from the Pheu Thai Party, from flying to Europe. &nbsp;</p> <p>According to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.khaosod.co.th/view_newsonline.php?newsid=1449048886">Khaosod News Agency</a>, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Wednesday, 2 December 2015, denied a request from Yingluck Shinawatra to travel to Europe to share her views on Thai politics.</p>

<p>Military officers in northern Thailand summoned a group of anti-establishment red shirts for a discussion after they wore red shirts.</p> <p>According to&nbsp;<a href="https://tlhr2014.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/redshirt_1nov/">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)</a>, military officers in the northern province of Chiang Rai summoned Somchai Saengthong and three other red shirts for a meeting at the 37th Army Division on Monday morning, 2 November 2015.</p>