Section 213 — Extending Favorable Judgment to Co-Defendants
Texte légal (original thaï)
ในคดีซึ่งจำเลยผู้หนึ่งอุทธรณ์คัดค้านคำพิพากษา ซึ่งให้ลงโทษจำเลยหลายคนในความผิดฐานเดียวกันหรือต่อเนื่องกัน ถ้าศาลอุทธรณ์กลับหรือแก้คำพิพากษาศาลชั้นต้น ไม่ลงโทษหรือลดโทษให้จำเลย แม้เป็นเหตุอยู่ในส่วนลักษณะคดี ศาลอุทธรณ์มีอำนาจพิพากษาตลอดไปถึงจำเลยอื่นที่มิได้อุทธรณ์ ให้มิต้องถูกรับโทษ หรือได้ลดโทษดุจจำเลยผู้อุทธรณ์
traduction anglaise
In a case where one defendant appeals against a judgment imposing punishment on several defendants for the same offense or connected offenses, if the Court of Appeal reverses or amends the judgment of the court of first instance so as not to punish or to reduce the punishment of the appealing defendant, even where the ground lies in the nature of the case, the Court of Appeal has the power to extend its judgment to the other defendants who did not appeal, so that they shall not undergo the punishment or shall have their punishment reduced in the same manner as the appealing defendant.
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 213 addresses fairness among co-defendants convicted of the same or connected offenses. Where only one appeals and the Court of Appeal reverses or reduces on a ground that lies in the nature of the case (เหตุในลักษณะคดี), rather than a ground personal to the appellant, the benefit is extended to the non-appealing co-defendants so they are treated the same. Grounds in the nature of the case include, for example, that the offense was not made out or that the claim was time-barred, matters that logically apply to all who share the same legal position. By Section 225 the Supreme Court has the same power, and it may extend relief to co-defendants who did not file a dika. The section prevents the anomaly of identically situated defendants receiving different outcomes merely because some did not appeal.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
If you are one of several co-defendants and cannot or did not appeal, you may still benefit when a co-defendant's appeal succeeds on a ground in the nature of the case, such as the offense not being proven or prescription: the court can extend the reversal or reduction to you. This matters where cost or circumstances keep some defendants from appealing. It does not apply to grounds personal to the appellant, so the benefit only follows when the winning point is one that logically covers everyone in the same position. If you share a conviction with others and are deciding who should appeal, an consultation en ligne avec un avocat thaïlandais can help you plan.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 45/2567 (2024)
Prescription of the prosecution is a ground in the nature of the case, so where it succeeds for an appealing defendant the higher court may extend the judgment to co-defendants who did not appeal, under Section 213 read with Section 225.
The Supreme Court found the prosecution time-barred for the appealing defendants. Holding that prescription is a ground in the nature of the case, it extended the dismissal to co-defendants who had not filed a dika, under Section 213 with Section 225, and dismissed the charge against them as well.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1327/2568 (2025)
Where a matter of public order in the nature of the case leads the higher court to dismiss for the appealing defendants, it may extend the judgment to co-defendants whose case had already concluded without appeal, under Section 213 read with Section 225.
The Supreme Court raised a public-order point on its own and, treating it as a ground in the nature of the case, extended the dismissal to defendants 3 and 4 whose cases had ended without appeal, under Section 213 with Section 225, amending the judgment to dismiss the charge against them too.
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 co-defendant who did not appeal still benefit from another's appeal?
Yes. Under Section 213, if the appeal succeeds on a ground in the nature of the case, the Court of Appeal may extend the reversal or reduced sentence to co-defendants who did not appeal.
What is a ground in the nature of the case?
It is a ground that applies to all defendants in the same legal position, such as the offense not being made out or prescription, rather than a ground personal to the appellant.