Article 222/7: Class action linked to a criminal case
Statutory text (Thai original)
ในกรณีที่การฟ้องคดีแบบกลุ่มตามบทบัญญัติแห่งหมวดนี้เป็นคดีแพ่งเกี่ยวเนื่องกับคดีอาญา แม้ว่าจะมีการฟ้องเป็นคดีอาญาแล้วก็ตาม ศาลที่พิจารณาคดีแบบกลุ่มอาจพิจารณาคดีต่อไปโดยไม่ต้องรอให้ศาลคดีอาญามีคำพิพากษาก่อน และหากศาลในคดีอาญาได้มีคำพิพากษาแล้ว
(๑) ในกรณีที่คำพิพากษาคดีส่วนอาญานั้นได้วินิจฉัยว่าจำเลยได้กระทำความผิด ศาลที่พิจารณาคดีแบบกลุ่มต้องถือข้อเท็จจริงตามที่ปรากฏในคำพิพากษาคดีส่วนอาญา
(๒) ในกรณีที่คำพิพากษาคดีส่วนอาญานั้นได้วินิจฉัยเป็นอย่างอื่น ศาลที่พิจารณาคดีแบบกลุ่มไม่จำต้องถือข้อเท็จจริงตามที่ปรากฏในคำพิพากษาคดีส่วนอาญา
English translation
Where a class action under the provisions of this Chapter is a civil case connected with a criminal case, even though a criminal prosecution has already been instituted, the court trying the class action may proceed with the case without waiting for the criminal court to render judgment first. And once the criminal court has rendered judgment:
(1) where the judgment in the criminal part has decided that the defendant committed the offense, the court trying the class action must take the facts as they appear in the judgment in the criminal part;
(2) where the judgment in the criminal part has decided otherwise, the court trying the class action need not take the facts as they appear in the judgment in the criminal part.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified. Always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
This section, part of the B.E. 2558 (2015) class action amendment, adapts the general rule on civil cases connected with criminal cases to the class action setting. It has two effects. First, to avoid holding up large group litigation, the class court may press on without waiting for the criminal judgment, unlike the usual expectation that a related civil case follows the criminal one. Second, it sets an asymmetric binding rule: a criminal conviction fixes the facts for the class court, but an acquittal or other outcome does not, leaving the class court free to weigh the civil evidence on the lower civil standard of proof. This mirrors the logic of Section 46 of the Criminal Procedure Code for connected civil claims.
Why this matters in practice
If your group's harm also amounts to a crime, the class action does not have to stall while the criminal prosecution runs its course, which can save years. A criminal conviction is powerful because it locks in the facts for the class case, but an acquittal is not fatal, since the civil claim is judged on the balance of probabilities, not beyond reasonable doubt. Working out how a parallel criminal case affects your class claim is best done with a lawyer, so consider a consultation with a Thai lawyer.
Foire aux questions
Une action collective doit-elle attendre une affaire pénale connexe ?
Non. En vertu de l'article 222/7, le tribunal saisi du recours collectif peut procéder sans attendre que le tribunal pénal rende son jugement au préalable.
Le tribunal de recours collectif est-il lié par le verdict pénal ?
Il n'y a qu'une seule voie possible. En vertu de l'article 222/7, une condamnation pénale lie le tribunal de groupe quant aux faits, mais un acquittement ou toute autre issue ne le fait pas.
Guides connexes sur ThaiLawOnline
Citer cette section
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Citation simple
Civil Procedure Code, s. 222/7 (Thailand) -
Citation académique
Civil Procedure Code (Thailand), s. 222/7. ThaiLawOnline, https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-civil-procedure-code/section-222-7/ (accessed 1 septembre 2026). -
Citation thaïlandaise
ป.วิ.พ. มาตรา 222/7 -
Lien permanent
https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-civil-procedure-code/section-222-7/ -
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<blockquote cite="https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-civil-procedure-code/section-222-7/"><p>Where a class action under the provisions of this Chapter is a civil case connected with a criminal case, even though a criminal prosecution has already been instituted, the court trying the class action may proceed with the case without waiting for the criminal court…</p><footer>Civil Procedure Code, s. 222/7 (Thailand): <a href="https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-civil-procedure-code/section-222-7/">ThaiLawOnline</a></footer></blockquote>
The Thai text is authoritative. The English is an unofficial translation by ThaiLawOnline, free to reuse with attribution.