Article 238: Best Evidence Rule for Documents
Statutory text (Thai original)
ต้นฉบับเอกสารเท่านั้นที่อ้างเป็นพยานได้ ถ้าหาต้นฉบับไม่ได้ สำเนาที่รับรองว่าถูกต้องหรือพยานบุคคลที่รู้ข้อความก็อ้างเป็นพยานได้ถ้าอ้างหนังสือราชการเป็นพยาน แม้ต้นฉบับยังมีอยู่ จะส่งสำเนาที่เจ้าหน้าที่รับรองว่าถูกต้องก็ได้ เว้นแต่ในหมายเรียกจะบ่งไว้เป็นอย่างอื่น
English translation
Only the original of a document may be cited as evidence. If the original cannot be found, a copy certified as correct, or a witness who knows its contents, may be cited as evidence. If an official document is cited as evidence, a copy certified as correct by the official may be submitted even though the original still exists, unless the summons specifies otherwise.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified. Always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 238 states the best evidence rule for documentary evidence in Book 5, Chapter 3. The primary rule is that only the original document is admissible, protecting against forgery and inaccurate copies. Two exceptions follow: where the original cannot be found, a certified true copy or oral evidence of its contents is allowed; and for official documents, a certified copy suffices even if the original survives, in recognition of the reliability of government records, subject to any contrary direction in the summons. The rule is applied with regard to purpose, the courts have noted that its strictness is aimed at evidence proving guilt or innocence, and it may be relaxed in ancillary proceedings such as claims for return of confiscated property.
Why this matters in practice
Keep your originals. If you plan to rely on a contract, receipt, or letter in a Thai criminal case, the original is what the court expects; a copy is only a fallback where the original is genuinely lost and is certified true, or where you produce a witness who knows the contents. Official records can go in as certified copies. Preserving and properly certifying documents early avoids fatal evidentiary gaps at trial.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Arrêt de la Cour suprême n° 3126/2550 (2007)
In a proceeding to recover property already ordered confiscated under Penal Code Section 36, Section 238 need not be applied strictly, because the document rules in Book 5 are aimed at evidence tending to prove the defendant's guilt or innocence.
A claimant sought the return of a photocopier already ordered confiscated, attaching a copy of the hire-purchase contract certified by an attorney-in-fact, with the hirer confirming it. The Supreme Court held that in such a claim under Penal Code Section 36 the best evidence rule in Section 238 need not be applied strictly, since Book 5's document rules target evidence proving guilt or innocence, and the prosecutor had not disputed the copy's contents.
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Arrêt de la Cour suprême n° 203/2546 (2003)
Where a written loan record existed but was later lost, the lender may prove the loan by a copy or by a witness under Section 238 paragraph one in criminal cases, so a cheque issued to pay that loan is issued for a genuine, legally enforceable debt.
The defendant argued a loan had no enforceable written evidence. The Supreme Court held that where a written loan record once existed but was lost, the lender may prove it by a copy or a witness under Section 238 paragraph one in criminal matters (or CPC Section 93(2) in civil), so the cheque issued to repay it was for a real, enforceable debt, even though the loan agreement was torn up after the cheque was issued.
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Arrêt de la Cour suprême n° 3597/2543 (2000)
A copy of an official document certified as correct by an official and submitted in answer to a court summons is admissible under Section 238 paragraph two, even if the person who made the original does not testify.
A copy of a document made by the Deputy Director-General of the Forestry Department, sent under court summons and certified correct by a forestry academic, was challenged. The Supreme Court held the certified copy of the official document was admissible under Section 238 paragraph two even though its maker did not testify, and on the facts the defendant honestly believed he had permission and lacked criminal intent.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Cited in 18 Supreme Court decisions (1951 to 2007)
Décisions de citation sélectionnées
- Decision 3126/2550 (2007)
- Decision 3597/2543 (2000)
- Decision 5624/2542 (1999)
- Decision 5624/2541 (1998)
- Decision 3256/2537 (1994)
- Decision 2820/2536 (1993)
- Decision 2445/2534 (1991)
- Decision 3336-3337/2547 (2004)
Cette liste est sélectionnée automatiquement, en privilégiant les jugements qui reposent sur cet article plutôt que sur ceux qui se contentent de le citer lors du prononcé de la peine. Elle n'a pas encore été examinée par le cabinet.
Le plus souvent cité aux côtés de
- Article 91 du Code pénal thaïlandais 8
- Article 83 du Code pénal thaïlandais 5
- Article 226 3
- Thai Penal Code s. 352 3
Sections qui apparaissent le plus souvent dans les mêmes jugements que celui-ci. Le chiffre correspond au nombre de décisions.
Calculé sur l'ensemble du corpus de 83 652 décisions de la Cour suprême du cabinet, de 1921 à 2026. Le décompte est exhaustif ; la plage d'années indiquée élimine les valeurs aberrantes rares afin de refléter la répartition réelle des citations. Ces chiffres sont calculés par nos soins et ne constituent pas des statistiques officielles de la Cour. Comment nous les comptons et ce que nous avons mesuré
Foire aux questions
Avez-vous besoin du document original comme preuve dans une affaire pénale thaïlandaise ?
En règle générale, oui. L'article 238 fait de l'original la principale forme de preuve documentaire. Ce n'est qu'en cas d'impossibilité de retrouver l'original qu'une copie certifiée conforme ou le témoignage d'un témoin connaissant son contenu peuvent être utilisés.
Une copie certifiée conforme d'un document officiel peut-elle servir de preuve ?
Oui. Conformément à l'article 238, une copie d'un document officiel certifiée conforme par l'autorité compétente peut être soumise même si l'original existe toujours, sauf indication contraire dans la citation à comparaître.
Citer cette section
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Citation simple
Criminal Procedure Code, s. 238 (Thailand) -
Citation académique
Criminal Procedure Code (Thailand), s. 238. ThaiLawOnline, https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-238/ (accessed 1 septembre 2026). -
Citation thaïlandaise
ป.วิ.อ. มาตรา 238 -
Lien permanent
https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-238/ -
Intégrer sur votre site
<blockquote cite="https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-238/"><p>Only the original of a document may be cited as evidence. If the original cannot be found, a copy certified as correct, or a witness who knows its contents, may be cited as evidence. If an official document is cited as evidence, a copy certified…</p><footer>Criminal Procedure Code, s. 238 (Thailand): <a href="https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-238/">ThaiLawOnline</a></footer></blockquote>
The Thai text is authoritative. The English is an unofficial translation by ThaiLawOnline, free to reuse with attribution.