Article 124 — Deemed admission for withholding a document
Texte légal (original thaï)
ถ้าคู่ความฝ่ายที่อ้างเอกสารไม่ยอมนำมาหรือยื่นต้นฉบับเอกสาร หรือถ้าคู่ความฝ่ายนั้นได้ทำให้เสียหาย ทำลาย ปิดบัง หรือทำด้วยประการอื่นใด ให้เอกสารนั้นไร้ประโยชน์โดยมุ่งหมายที่จะกีดกันไม่ให้คู่ความอีกฝ่ายหนึ่งอ้างอิงเอกสารนั้นเป็นพยานหลักฐาน ให้ถือว่าข้อเท็จจริงแห่งข้ออ้างที่คู่ความอีกฝ่ายหนึ่งจะต้องนำสืบโดยเอกสารนั้น คู่ความฝ่ายที่ไม่นำมาหรือยื่นเอกสารดังกล่าวข้างต้นนั้นได้ยอมรับแล้ว
traduction anglaise
If the party citing a document refuses to bring or submit the original, or if that party has damaged, destroyed, concealed, or otherwise rendered the document useless with the purpose of preventing the other party from citing it as evidence, the facts of the allegation which the other party was to prove by that document shall be deemed admitted by the party who did not bring or submit the document.
Cette traduction anglaise est fournie à titre indicatif uniquement et n'a pas encore été vérifiée de manière définitive ; référez-vous toujours à l'original thaï.
Annotation de l'entreprise
Section 124 protects the integrity of documentary proof by penalising a party who cited a document but then withholds or sabotages it. If that party refuses to produce the original, or damages, destroys, conceals, or otherwise renders the document useless with the aim of blocking the opponent's use of it, the fact the opponent was to prove is deemed admitted. Unlike Section 123, the decisive element here is purpose: the withholding or destruction must be intended to obstruct the other side, so an innocent loss, for example documents lost in an office reorganisation, does not trigger the deeming. The section applies specifically to the party who cited the document, not to a party merely asking the opponent for it.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
If your opponent cited a document and then stalls, damages, or hides it, gather proof of the deliberate obstruction, because the deemed admission under Section 124 depends on showing purpose, not mere non-production. Conversely, if you cannot produce a document for an innocent reason, document the reason clearly, as a genuine loss will not be treated as bad faith. Because the line between innocent loss and deliberate obstruction is fact-heavy, take advice on how to present it.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 528/2537 (1994)
Section 124 applies only where a document is withheld with the purpose of obstructing the opponent; where the party could not produce it because it was innocently lost, there is no such purpose and the deemed admission does not arise.
The defendant could not produce vouchers and receipts summoned by the court because they were lost during an internal reorganisation. The Supreme Court held this was not a purpose of obstructing the plaintiff, so Section 124 did not deem the plaintiff's account entries admitted.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2944/2526 (1983)
Section 124 concerns the party who cited a document and then fails to produce, damages, conceals, or renders it useless; it does not apply to a party who is merely seeking to cite documents held by the opponent.
The defendant argued the appellate court's ruling conflicted with Section 124. The Supreme Court explained that the section applies to the party who cited the document, whereas here the defendant was the one seeking documents from the plaintiff, so Section 124 did not fit.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 3589/2525 (1982)
Where it does not appear which fact a party intended to prove by a summoned document, Section 124 cannot be used to deem that the other party admitted the fact or admitted that no such document exists.
The Supreme Court held that because it did not appear which fact the defendant wanted to prove by the summoned documents, it could not be treated under Section 124 that the plaintiff admitted the fact or that no such document existed.
Décisions sélectionnées avec numéros de dossier vérifiés dans la base de données de la Cour suprême. Les versions anglaises sont des traductions éditoriales réalisées par le cabinet à des fins d'étude.
Foire aux questions
What if the other side destroys or hides a document?
Under Section 124, if the party who cited the document damages, destroys, conceals, or refuses to produce it to obstruct you, the fact you were to prove by that document is deemed admitted.
Does an accidental loss trigger Section 124?
No. The section requires a purpose of obstructing the other party. A genuine, innocent loss, such as documents misplaced in a reorganisation, does not create the deemed admission.
How is Section 124 different from Section 123?
Section 123 targets a party who ignores an order to produce a document the opponent needs. Section 124 targets the party who cited the document and then withholds or destroys it in bad faith.