Offenses in the Thai Penal Code
Sexual Abuse
Translated by Academic Team of Soodpaisan, 2023
Section 277
Section 277 .- Whoever has sex with a child not yet over fifteen years, who is not his wife or husband, with or without consent shall be punished with imprisonment of five to twenty years and adjusted from one hundred thousand baht to four hundred thousand baht.
If the offense under paragraph one is an act for a child not yet thirteen years old shall be punished with imprisonment of seven to twenty years and adjusted from one hundred and forty thousand baht to forty thousand baht or life imprisonment.
If the commission of the offense according to the first or second paragraph was done by making the perpetrator understand that the perpetrator had a firearm or dynamite shall be punished with imprisonment of ten to twenty years and adjusted from two hundred thousand baht, or life imprisonment.
If the commission of the offense according to the first or second paragraph Was done with a firearm or dynamite Or by using weapons Or by jointly committing an offense that is a shabby girl or with a boy in the same manner Imprisonment for life.
Offenses as provided in paragraph one If it is done by a person not over eighteen years of age, against a child who is over thirteen years old but not yet over fifteen years old with that child consent The court having jurisdiction over juvenile and family cases may consider the protection of the welfare of the offender or the offender under the law on child protection instead of punishment. At the court's consideration taking into account the age, history, behavior, intellect, education, training, health, mental state, habits, occupation, environment of the offender and the child being treated. The relationship between the offender and the victim child or other reasonable grounds for the benefit of the victim.
In the event that the welfare of the offender or the offender under the law on child protection has been implemented The offender must not be punished. But if the protection of the said welfare is unsuccessful The court may inflict less punishment on any offender than is required by law for that offense. At the court's consideration Consider the reason under paragraph five as well.
Section 277 bis
Section 277 bis .- If the commission of an offense under Section 276 paragraph one or Section 277 paragraph one or
paragraph two causing the victim,
(1) Take serious danger, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of fifteen to twenty years and adjusted from
three hundred thousand baht to four hundred thousand baht or life imprisonment.
(2) Death the offender shall be punished with death, or life imprisonment.
Section 277 ter
Section 277 ter .- If the offense under Section 276 paragraph three or Section 277 paragraph four causes the
victim to ;
(1) Serious danger, the offender shall be punished with death, or life imprisonment
(2) Death, the offender shall be punished with death.
Section 277 amended by Section 5 of The Act Amending The Criminal Code (No. 27), B.E. 2562.
Section 277 bis amended by Section 6-7 of The Act Amending The Criminal Code (No. 27), B.E. 2562.
Section 277 ter amended by Section 6-7 of The Act Amending The Criminal Code (No. 27), B.E. 2562.
Section 278
Section 278 .- Whoever committing an indecent act against the person over fifteen years of age by threatening with any means, by doing any act of violence, by taking advantage of that person to be in the condition of inability to resist, or by causing that person to misunderstand him for the other person, shall be imprisoned not out of ten years or fined not out of two hundred thousand Baht, or both.
If the offense under paragraph one Is the act of using objects or other organs that are not intrusive genitals, genitals or anus of that person, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of four to twenty years, and adjusted from eighty thousand baht to four hundred thousand baht.
Section 279
Section 279 .- Whoever, commits indecent behavior to
children not yet over fifteen years of age, with or without consent
shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding ten years
or a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand baht or both.
If the offense under paragraph one Is done to children
up to thirteen years old
shall be punished with imprisonment of one to ten years or fined from twenty thousand baht to two hundred thousand baht or both.
If the commission of the offense according to the first or
second paragraph the doer has done in coercion by any
means by using force to do harm. Which the child is in a
condition that cannot be resisted or by causing that child to
misunderstand that he is another person
shall be punished with imprisonment of one to fifteen years or fined from twenty thousand baht to three hundred thousand baht or both.
If the commission of an offense under paragraph one or
paragraph three is the act of using objects or other organs
that are not intrusive genitals, genitals or anus of that child
the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of five to twenty
years, and adjusted from one hundred thousand baht to four
hundred thousand baht.
If the commission of the offense according to paragraph
four is an act for a child not yet thirteen years old
shall be punished with imprisonment of seven to twenty years and
adjusted from one hundred and forty thousand baht to forty
thousand baht or life imprisonment.
If the commission of the offense according to paragraph
four or paragraph five was done by making the perpetrator
understand that the perpetrator had a firearm or dynamite
shall be punished with imprisonment of ten to twenty years and
adjusted from two hundred thousand baht to four hundred
thousand baht or life imprisonment.
If the commission of the offense according to paragraph
four or paragraph five was done with a firearm or dynamite or
by using weapons or by jointly committing an offense that is a
shabby girl or with a boy in the same manner
Imprisonment for life.
"Section 279" amended by Section 9 of Criminal Code (No.27), B.E.2562
Section 280
"Section 280 .- If the commission of an offense under
Section 278 or Section 279 causes the victim to :
(1) Serious danger,
the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of five to twenty years, and adjusted from one hundred thousand baht to four hundred thousand baht or life imprisonment,
(2) Death,
the offender shall be punished with death, or life imprisonment.
"Section 280" amended by Section 9 of Criminal Code (No.27), B.E.2562
Child Protection Act of B.E. 2546 (2003)
Section 26
Section 26 Under the provisions of other laws, regardless of a Child’s consent, a person shall not act as follows:
(1) to commit or omit acts which result in Torturing a Child’s physical or mental state;
(2) to intentionally or negligently withhold things which are necessary to sustain life or health of a Child under his or her care to an extent which will likely cause physical or mental harm to the Child;
(3) to force, threaten, use, induce, or allow a Child to behave inappropriately or likely to be the cause of wrongdoing;
(4) to advertise by means of mass media or information dissemination to receive or give away a Child to any other person who is not the Child’s relative, unless such action is done by the state or is approved by the state;
(5) to force, threaten, use, induce, allow, or act in any other way which results in a Child becoming a beggar, a vagrant, or an instrument for begging or committing crimes, or to act in any way which results in the exploitation of the Child;
(6) to use, employ, or ask a Child to work or act in such a way which will likely cause physical or mental harm, affect the growth, or hinder the Child’s development;
(7) to force, threaten, use, induce, encourage, support, or allow a Child to play sports or commit any acts indicative of commercial exploitation in a manner which hinders the growth or development of a Child, or in manner which Tortures the Child;
(8) to use or allow a Child to gamble in any form or to enter into a gambling place, brothel, or other places where Children are not allowed;
(9) to force, threaten, use, induce, encourage, support, or allow a Child to perform or act in a pornographic manner, regardless of whether the intention is to obtain remuneration or for any purpose;
(10) to sell, exchange, or give liquor or cigarettes to a Child, unless it is for medical treatment. If the offences under paragraph one carry heavier penalties under other laws, penalties under such law shall be imposed.
If the offences listed under Paragraph 1 carry heavier penalties under other laws, then the penalties under such other laws shall be imposed.
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Offenses in the Thai Penal Code Sexual Abuse translated from Academic Team of Soodpaisan. (2023). The Criminal Code Thai - English (6th ed.). Bangkok: Soodpaisan. 480 pages. ISBN 978-616-594-192-1.
Child Protection Act translated by Siam City Law Offices Limited under contract for the Office of the Council of State of Thailand's Law for ASEAN project – Initial version, pending review and approval. Retrieved from https://multi.dopa.go.th/legal/news/cate6/view70
ทั้งนี้ การกระทำผิดทางเพศต่อเด็กผ่านสื่อออนไลน์ดังกล่าวยังสามารถเป็นความผิดฐานค้ามนุษย์ได้ด้วย อาทิ การผลิตและเผยแพร่สื่อลามกอนาจารเด็ก ทั้งด้วยวิธีการล่อลวงหรือหลอกลวงเด็กผ่านช่องทางออนไลน์ เช่น ล่อลวงให้มีการเปิดเผยร่างกาย โดยให้ของขวัญ ยาเสพติด หรือหลอกว่าจะนำเด็กเข้าสู่วงการบันเทิง เมื่อได้ภาพเด็กแล้วจึงนำไปแสวงหาประโยชน์โดยมิชอบในลักษณะการซื้อขาย ก็เข้าข่ายการแสวงหาประโยชน์กับเด็กในลักษณะการซื้อขายแลกเปลี่ยนสื่อลามก หรืออาจเป็นการนำเด็กมาให้บริการกิจกรรมทางเพศรูปแบบอื่น เช่น บริการลูกค้าแล้วมีประโยชน์ทางเพศแอบแฝง หรือมาถ่ายทำสื่อลามกเพื่อเผยแพร่หรือจำหน่าย รวมไปถึงการส่งเสียเลี้ยงดูโดยแลกเปลี่ยนกับการมีความสัมพันธ์ทางเพศก็เป็นความผิดฐานค้ามนุษย์ได้ ถึงแม้ว่าเด็กจะยินยอมก็ตาม รวมถึงการเป็นธุระจัดหาค้าประเวณีเด็กออนไลน์ การแสวงหาประโยชน์ทางเพศเด็กในรูปแบบอื่น อาทิ การนำเด็กมาแสดงออกในทางเพศโดยมิชอบด้วยกฎหมาย ไม่ว่าด้วยการบังคับ หลอกลวง หรือด้วยความสมัครใจของบุคคลที่ถูกกระทำ โดยมีสิ่งตอบแทนในรูปแบบต่าง ๆ เช่น เงินสด ทรัพย์สิน สิ่งของ การบริการ (เช่น การให้ความช่วยเหลือในด้านต่าง ๆ หรือการให้ความคุ้มครอง ฯลฯ) และอื่น ๆ ตัวอย่างเช่น การนำพาบุคคลไปให้บุคคลที่สามจับต้องของสงวนเพื่อแสวงหาประโยชน์ หรือการนำบุคคลมาแต่งกายและให้แสดงออกในลักษณะส่อไปในทางลามกอนาจารในสถานบริการ เป็นต้น