Article 144 — Prosecutor directing compounding
Texte légal (original thaï)
ในกรณีที่พนักงานอัยการมีคำสั่งฟ้อง ถ้าความผิดนั้นเป็นความผิดซึ่งอาจเปรียบเทียบได้ ถ้าเห็นสมควรพนักงานอัยการมีอำนาจดังต่อไปนี้
(๑) สั่งให้พนักงานสอบสวนพยายามเปรียบเทียบคดีนั้น แทนการที่จะส่งผู้ต้องหาไปยังพนักงานอัยการ
(๒) เมื่อผู้ต้องหาถูกส่งมายังพนักงานอัยการแล้ว สั่งให้ส่งผู้ต้องหาพร้อมด้วยสำนวนกลับไปยังพนักงานสอบสวนให้พยายามเปรียบเทียบคดีนั้น หรือถ้าเห็นสมควรจะสั่งให้พนักงานสอบสวนอื่นที่มีอำนาจจัดการเปรียบเทียบให้ก็ได้
traduction anglaise
In a case where the public prosecutor has issued a prosecution order, if that offence is one that may be settled by compounding, the public prosecutor has the following powers, if he sees fit:
(1) to order the inquiry official to attempt to compound that case, instead of sending the accused to the public prosecutor;
(2) once the accused has been sent to the public prosecutor, to order the accused, together with the file, returned to the inquiry official to attempt to compound that case, or, if he sees fit, to order another inquiry official having authority to arrange the compounding.
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
This section gives the prosecutor a diversion tool for minor compoundable offences after a prosecution order, promoting settlement over trial where appropriate. It complements section 142's compounding route by allowing the prosecutor, not just the police, to trigger compounding at a later point. Its reach is limited: it presupposes that compounding actually lies within an inquiry official's authority; where the power to compound rests elsewhere, the prosecutor cannot order the inquiry official to do it.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
If your case is a compoundable offence, this section is a genuine off-ramp from trial, even after the prosecutor has decided to charge, so raising a settlement is worthwhile. But whether compounding is available depends on who holds the compounding power for that particular offence, which is not always the police. A licensed Thai lawyer can tell you quickly whether your matter qualifies and how to position it.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 977/2545 (2002)
The prosecutor cannot order an inquiry official to compound a case under section 144 where the power to compound that offence does not lie with the inquiry official.
Where the statute gave a minister-appointed committee discretionary power to compound, the committee's choice not to compound was lawful. Because compounding did not lie within the inquiry official's authority, the prosecutor could not order the inquiry official to attempt compounding under section 144, and the prosecution of the company's directors was valid.
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
Can a case be settled after the prosecutor decides to prosecute?
For a compoundable offence, yes. Section 144 lets the prosecutor order the inquiry official to attempt compounding instead of trial, even after a prosecution order.
Can the prosecutor always order compounding?
No. The prosecutor can only direct the inquiry official to compound where the compounding power actually lies with the inquiry official; if that power rests with another body, section 144 does not apply.