Thailand Criminal Law and Thai Criminal Justice System

The basic statutory law controlling Thailand’s criminal justice system is supported by the Thai penal code.

Thailand criminal defense lawyers note that one of obstacle for foreigners in Thailand is being unfamiliar with the criminal justice system and the difference between laws in their own nation compared to Thailand.

Key differences include the following:

It is possible to file criminal charges privately where cases do not necessarily have to be referred to the public prosecutor.
There is no jury system in Thailand.
The police are often overburdened in Thailand.
Royal Pardons are periodically issued in Thailand.
There have been dozens of constitutions in Thailand that are not as certain or reliable as in Western common law countries.
Supreme Court case decisions in Thailand do not have the same weight as in common law countries.

Thailand criminal law acts include the Computer Crime Act of Thailand which regulates the use of computers and cyber activities. The Thailand Extradition Act, B.E. 2551 replaced the extradition act of 1929. Extraditions are also dependent on the provisions of international treaties that Thailand holds with other international agencies.

Thailand’s Anti-money Laundering Act is designed to stop the practice of generating income through illegal actions in Thailand.

Information with regards to Thailand’s extradition treaty with the U.S., Great Britain, Indonesia, China, South Korea, Philippines, and Bangladesh are available in the following links:

United States of America and Thailand Extradition Treaty

Great Britain and Thailand Extradition Treaty

Indonesia and Thailand Extradition Treaty

China and Thailand Extradition Treaty

South Korea and Thailand Extradition Treaty

Philippines and Thailand Extradition Treaty

Bangladesh and Thailand Extradition Treaty