Article 119: Court's power to question witnesses
Statutory text (Thai original)
ไม่ว่าเวลาใด ๆ ในระหว่างที่พยานเบิกความ หรือภายหลังที่พยานได้เบิกความแล้ว แต่ก่อนมีคำพิพากษา ให้ศาลมีอำนาจที่จะถามพยานด้วยคำถามใด ๆ ตามที่เห็นว่าจำเป็น เพื่อให้คำเบิกความของพยานบริบูรณ์ หรือชัดเจนยิ่งขึ้น หรือเพื่อสอบสวนถึงพฤติการณ์ที่ทำให้พยานเบิกความเช่นนั้นถ้าพยานสองคนหรือกว่านั้นเบิกความขัดกัน ในข้อสำคัญแห่งประเด็น เมื่อศาลเห็นสมควรหรือเมื่อคู่ความฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งมีคำขอ ให้ศาลมีอำนาจเรียกพยานเหล่านั้นมาสอบถามปากคำพร้อมกันได้
English translation
At any time while a witness is testifying, or after the witness has testified but before judgment, the court has the power to put to the witness any question it considers necessary, in order to make the witness's testimony complete or clearer, or to inquire into the circumstances that led the witness to testify as they did. If two or more witnesses testify inconsistently on a material point of the issue, when the court sees fit or when a party so requests, the court has the power to call those witnesses to be questioned together.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified. Always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 119 confirms that, alongside the party-led examination governed by Sections 117 and 118, the court retains an active role in ascertaining the truth. The judge may intervene at any stage, during or after testimony and up to judgment, to fill gaps, clear up ambiguity, or probe why a witness gave a particular account. The second paragraph adds a confrontation power: where witnesses conflict on a material point, the court may examine them together, whether on its own initiative or at a party's request, to resolve the discrepancy. The provision reflects the inquisitorial element that runs through Thai civil procedure and complements, rather than displaces, the parties' own examination rights.
Why this matters in practice
Expect the judge to ask questions, sometimes pointed ones, so prepare witnesses to answer the court directly and consistently rather than only anticipating the lawyers. If your case turns on a factual conflict between witnesses, you can ask the court to examine the conflicting witnesses together, which can be a useful way to expose which account holds up. Anticipating judicial questioning is part of thorough hearing preparation, and early guidance from a Thai lawyer helps your witnesses give clear, confident answers.
Foire aux questions
Un juge peut-il poser des questions à un témoin lors d'un procès civil en Thaïlande ?
Oui. En vertu de l'article 119, le tribunal peut poser toute question qu'il juge nécessaire pour compléter ou clarifier le témoignage, à tout moment pendant que le témoin témoigne ou ultérieurement jusqu'au jugement.
Que se passe-t-il lorsque les témoins donnent des témoignages contradictoires ?
L'article 119 permet au tribunal, de sa propre initiative ou à la demande d'une partie, de faire venir des témoins qui sont en désaccord sur un point important et de les interroger ensemble pour résoudre la divergence.
Guides connexes sur ThaiLawOnline
Citer cette section
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Citation simple
Civil Procedure Code, s. 119 (Thailand) -
Citation académique
Civil Procedure Code (Thailand), s. 119. ThaiLawOnline, https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-civil-procedure-code/section-119/ (accessed 1 septembre 2026). -
Citation thaïlandaise
ป.วิ.พ. มาตรา 119 -
Lien permanent
https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-civil-procedure-code/section-119/ -
Intégrer sur votre site
<blockquote cite="https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-civil-procedure-code/section-119/"><p>At any time while a witness is testifying, or after the witness has testified but before judgment, the court has the power to put to the witness any question it considers necessary, in order to make the witness's testimony complete or clearer, or to inquire…</p><footer>Civil Procedure Code, s. 119 (Thailand): <a href="https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-civil-procedure-code/section-119/">ThaiLawOnline</a></footer></blockquote>
The Thai text is authoritative. The English is an unofficial translation by ThaiLawOnline, free to reuse with attribution.