Article 174 — Order of Presenting the Case at Trial
Texte légal (original thaï)
ก่อนนำพยานเข้าสืบ โจทก์มีอำนาจเปิดคดีเพื่อให้ศาลทราบคดีโจทก์ คือแถลงถึงลักษณะของฟ้อง อีกทั้งพยานหลักฐานที่จะนำสืบเพื่อพิสูจน์ความผิดของจำเลย เสร็จแล้วให้โจทก์นำพยานเข้าสืบเมื่อสืบพยานโจทก์แล้ว จำเลยมีอำนาจเปิดคดีเพื่อให้ศาลทราบคดีจำเลย โดยแถลงข้อเท็จจริงหรือข้อกฎหมายซึ่งตั้งใจอ้างอิง ทั้งแสดงพยานหลักฐานที่จะนำสืบ เสร็จแล้วให้จำเลยนำพยานเข้าสืบเมื่อสืบพยานจำเลยเสร็จแล้ว โจทก์และจำเลยมีอำนาจแถลงปิดคดีของตนด้วยปาก หรือหนังสือหรือทั้งสองอย่างในระหว่างพิจารณา ถ้าศาลเห็นว่าไม่จำเป็นต้องสืบพยานหรือทำการอะไรอีก จะสั่งงดพยานหรือการนั้นเสียก็ได้
traduction anglaise
Before the prosecution examines its witnesses, the prosecutor has the power to open the case so that the court may understand the prosecution's case, that is, to state the nature of the charge as well as the evidence that will be adduced to prove the guilt of the defendant. Thereupon the prosecutor shall examine its witnesses. When the prosecution's witnesses have been examined, the defendant has the power to open the case so that the court may understand the defendant's case, by stating the facts or points of law intended to be relied upon and presenting the evidence that will be adduced; thereupon the defendant shall examine its witnesses. When the examination of the defendant's witnesses is completed, the prosecutor and the defendant have the power to make a closing statement of their case orally, in writing, or both. During the trial, if the court is of the opinion that it is unnecessary to examine any further witnesses or to take any further action, it may order that such examination or action be dispensed with.
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 174 sits in Title 2 (Trial) and lays out the sequence of a contested criminal trial: prosecution opening and evidence, defence opening and evidence, then closing statements. The final paragraph gives the court discretion to dispense with any further witness or step it considers unnecessary, a power the Supreme Court has upheld so long as the omitted evidence is not material to the charge or defence. It works alongside section 227 on the standard of proof, because the prosecution bears the burden of proving the defendant's guilt beyond reasonable doubt through the evidence it presents here.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
For a defendant, this section is the backbone of the trial: you are entitled to open your case, state your legal defences, and call witnesses only after the prosecution has presented its evidence. Note that the court can lawfully refuse to hear defence witnesses it finds immaterial, so counsel must be ready to explain why each witness is essential to the charge or the defence. If you are unsure how a Thai criminal trial unfolds in practice, our guide on Ce qu'il faut savoir avant de se présenter devant un tribunal en Thaïlande is a useful starting point.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2384/2566 (2023)
The trial court's discretion to dispense with defence witnesses is lawful where those witnesses are not material to the nature of the charge or the defence.
The third defendant challenged the trial court's order dispensing with two of his witnesses. The Supreme Court held that because those witnesses were not material to whether he knew the banknotes were counterfeit when he received them, the order under the last paragraph of Section 174 was lawful, and dismissed his appeal on this point.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 5042/2562 (2019)
The last paragraph of Section 174 is discretionary: where the defendant's act is no offence in law, the court may dispense with taking his plea and with both parties' evidence without being bound to hear witnesses.
The prosecutor argued the court was bound to hear the evidence. The Supreme Court held that where, on the applicable law, the second defendant committed no offence, the court could dispense with taking his plea and with both parties' evidence under the discretionary power in the last paragraph of Section 174; this was not a device to shield the defendant.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 7826/2560 (2017)
In a criminal case the prosecutor bears the duty under Section 174 to prove the charge, and the facts must be established beyond reasonable doubt; where doubt remains, the benefit of the doubt goes to the defendant.
The prosecution's evidence, that the defendant was found alone with a firearm, raised suspicion but did not logically confirm guilt. The Supreme Court held the prosecution had not met its duty under Section 174 to prove the firearm-possession charge beyond reasonable doubt, so the benefit of the doubt was given to the defendant under Section 227 paragraph two.
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 presents evidence first in a Thai criminal trial?
The prosecutor presents evidence first. Under Section 174, the prosecution opens the case and examines its witnesses before the defendant presents any evidence.
Can the court refuse to hear a defence witness?
Yes. The last paragraph of Section 174 lets the court dispense with witness examination it finds unnecessary, and the Supreme Court has upheld this where the witness is not material to the charge or defence.