Article 175 — Court's Power to Summon the Investigation File
Texte légal (original thaï)
เมื่อโจทก์สืบพยานเสร็จแล้ว ถ้าเห็นสมควรศาลมีอำนาจเรียกสำนวนการสอบสวนจากพนักงานอัยการมาเพื่อประกอบการวินิจฉัยได้
traduction anglaise
When the prosecutor has completed the examination of witnesses, the court, if it thinks fit, has the power to summon the investigation file from the public prosecutor to assist in its adjudication.
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 175 gives the trial court a discretionary tool within Title 2 (Trial): once the prosecution's evidence is closed, the court may draw in the investigation file compiled during the inquiry stage to inform its findings. The Supreme Court has confirmed that using statements taken during the investigation, including from a person who gave evidence as a witness rather than as a suspect, does not offend trial procedure. It is a supplementary aid to adjudication, not a substitute for evidence properly adduced at trial.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
Litigants should know the court may reach beyond the courtroom evidence and read the entire investigation file before deciding, which can include witness statements never called at trial. For the defence this cuts both ways: helpful statements the prosecutor left out may surface, but so may unfavourable ones. Counsel should review what the investigation file contains and be ready to address it, since the court can rely on it as supporting material.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 108/2546 (2003)
After both parties have closed their evidence, the trial court may summon the investigation file to assist its adjudication under Section 175, and may weigh statements found there when assessing the reliability of a witness.
After both sides had closed their evidence, the trial court summoned the investigation file under Section 175. The Supreme Court examined that file and found a statement by a person the police had ultimately decided not to prosecute, which bore on how cautiously the injured person's testimony should be treated.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 49/2528 (1985)
The court has power to summon the investigation file under Section 175, and admitting the investigation-stage statement of a person who gave it as a witness, not as a suspect or defendant, does not offend trial procedure.
The witness had given his investigation-stage statement as a witness rather than as a suspect. The Supreme Court held the court could summon the investigation file to assist adjudication under Section 175, so the trial court's reliance on that statement as supporting material did not offend procedure.
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
When can the court call for the police investigation file?
Under Section 175, after the prosecutor has finished examining witnesses. The court may then summon the investigation file from the public prosecutor if it sees fit, to assist its decision.
Can the court rely on statements in the investigation file?
Yes, as supporting material. The Supreme Court has held that relying on investigation-stage statements, including from a person questioned as a witness, does not breach trial procedure under Section 175.