Article 95 — Competency of witnesses
Texte légal (original thaï)
ห้ามมิให้ยอมรับฟังพยานบุคคลใดเว้นแต่บุคคลนั้น
(๑) สามารถเข้าใจและตอบคำถามได้ และ
(๒) เป็นผู้ที่ได้เห็น ได้ยิน หรือทราบข้อความเกี่ยวในเรื่องที่จะให้การเป็นพยานนั้นมาด้วยตนเองโดยตรง แต่ความในข้อนี้ให้ใช้ได้ต่อเมื่อไม่มีบทบัญญัติแห่งกฎหมายโดยชัดแจ้ง หรือคำสั่งของศาลว่าให้เป็นอย่างอื่นถ้าศาลไม่ยอมรับไว้ซึ่งคำเบิกความของบุคคลใด เพราะเห็นว่าบุคคลนั้นจะเป็นพยานหรือให้การดังกล่าวข้างต้นไม่ได้ และคู่ความที่ฝ่ายเกี่ยวข้องร้องคัดค้านก่อนที่ศาลจะดำเนินคดีต่อไป ให้ศาลจดรายงานระบุนามพยาน เหตุผลที่ไม่ยอมรับและข้อคัดค้านของคู่ความฝ่ายที่เกี่ยวข้องไว้ ส่วนเหตุผลที่คู่ความฝ่ายคัดค้านยกขึ้นอ้างนั้น ให้ศาลใช้ดุลพินิจจดลงไว้ในรายงานหรือกำหนดให้คู่ความฝ่ายนั้นยื่นคำแถลงต่อศาลเพื่อรวมไว้ในสำนวน
traduction anglaise
The court shall not admit the testimony of any person as a witness unless that person:
(1) is able to understand and to answer questions, and
(2) is a person who has seen, heard, or come to know the matters about which he is to testify by himself directly. But this provision applies only where there is no express provision of law, or order of the court, to the contrary.
If the court refuses to admit the testimony of any person because it is of the opinion that such person cannot be a witness or give testimony as stated above, and the party concerned objects before the court proceeds further, the court shall record in the report the name of the witness, the reason for the refusal, and the objection of the party concerned. As to the grounds the objecting party raises, the court shall, in its discretion, record them in the report or direct that party to submit a statement to the court for inclusion in the file.
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 95 sets the basic competency test for oral witnesses: the ability to understand and answer, and direct, firsthand knowledge of the matter to be proved. Subsection (2) is the source of the rule against pure hearsay for oral witnesses, though it yields where another law or a court order provides otherwise, and it interacts with Section 95/1, which governs when hearsay may nonetheless be admitted. The second paragraph is procedural, protecting a party's record when the court declines a witness, by requiring the name, the reason, and the objection to be noted. Courts read (2) purposively, so a person with genuine firsthand knowledge, such as a representative who personally examined the relevant documents, is competent even if not the party in person.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
Choose witnesses who actually saw or did the relevant things, not people who only heard about them, because a witness without firsthand knowledge can be excluded under Section 95(2). A common and workable solution is to call the employee or representative who personally handled or checked the documents. If the court refuses one of your witnesses, object at once and make sure the name, reason, and your objection go on the record, that record protects your position on appeal.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1169/2562 (2019)
A witness who has direct knowledge of the matters to be proved, such as an authorized representative who personally examined the relevant documents, is a competent witness under Section 95 even though not the party in person.
The Supreme Court rejected the argument that only the plaintiff in person could testify, holding that the plaintiff's authorized attorney, who directly knew and had checked the company records, was a competent witness under Section 95.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1323/2558 (2015)
A witness who is responsible for and has examined the relevant documents can testify to their authenticity, and admitting such testimony is not barred by Section 95(2).
The Supreme Court held that a legal officer who supervised and had checked the leases, including the disputed lease, was a person connected with the documents whose testimony as to their authenticity was not barred by Section 95(2).
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
Who can be a witness in a Thai civil case?
Under Section 95, a person who can understand and answer questions and who has firsthand knowledge, having seen, heard, or learned the matter directly, unless a specific law or court order provides otherwise.
Can a company send a representative instead of the party to testify?
Yes, if that representative has direct knowledge of the matter, for example by having personally examined the relevant documents, the testimony is competent under Section 95(2).