Article 241: Production and Inspection of Material Evidence
Statutory text (Thai original)
สิ่งใดใช้เป็นพยานวัตถุต้องนำมาศาลในกรณีที่นำมาไม่ได้ ให้ศาลไปตรวจจดรายงานยังที่ที่พยานวัตถุนั้นอยู่ตามเวลาและวิธีซึ่งศาลเห็นสมควรตามลักษณะแห่งพยานวัตถุ
English translation
Anything used as material evidence must be brought to the court. Where it cannot be brought, the court shall go to inspect and make a record at the place where the material evidence is located, at such time and in such manner as the court thinks fit according to the nature of the material evidence.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified. Always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 241 opens Book 5, Chapter 4 on material (physical) evidence. The default is that the object itself must be produced in court so it can be examined directly. Where the item cannot practically be brought in, such as immovable property or large machinery, the court conducts an on-site inspection and records its observations. Importantly, the courts have read this provision as a method for taking material evidence, not a mandatory rule that guilt must be proved by physical evidence; a case may be proved by other evidence, and the court has discretion whether an inspection is even necessary. It works alongside Section 242 on the handling and inspection of exhibits.
Why this matters in practice
In practice, do not assume a case rises or falls on the physical exhibit. The courts have confirmed that a prosecution need not prove guilt by material evidence, so a clear photograph or other proof can suffice where the object itself is not examined. Conversely, if the decisive item cannot be moved, you can ask the court to inspect it on site. How to present or challenge physical evidence is a tactical decision best worked out with a trial lawyer.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Arrêt de la Cour suprême n° 6744/2548 (2005)
Section 241 is only a method for taking material evidence, not a rule that material evidence must always be examined; the court may decline to inspect it, and a clear photograph of the exhibit may be admitted where its accuracy is not disputed.
The prosecutor produced a clear photocopy of the marked banknotes used in a controlled purchase rather than the banknotes themselves. The Supreme Court held that Section 241 is only a method for taking material evidence and does not compel its examination; since the copy was clear enough to show the notes and their serial numbers, and the defendant did not dispute its accuracy, the court could admit it.
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Arrêt de la Cour suprême n° 7757/2543 (2000)
Sections 241 and 242 do not compel the prosecution to prove guilt by material evidence; the prosecution may prove the offence by other evidence instead of the physical object.
The prosecution proved that the seized substance was a Category 1 narcotic by relying on the criminal exhibit inventory and police testimony rather than the object itself. The Supreme Court held that Sections 241 and 242 do not require guilt to be proved by material evidence, and the offence could be established by other evidence.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Cited in 10 Supreme Court decisions (1942 to 2005)
Décisions de citation sélectionnées
- Decision 6744/2548 (2005)
- Décision 7757/2543 (2000)
- Decision 1416-1418/2508 (1965)
- Decision 1416-1448/2508 (1965)
- Decision 504/2491 (1948)
- Decision 687/2485 (1942)
- Decision 74/2517 (1974)
- Décision 1637/2492 (1949)
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
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
Les preuves matérielles doivent-elles toujours être présentées devant les tribunaux en Thaïlande ?
En règle générale, oui, en vertu de l'article 241. Mais si l'objet ne peut être déplacé, le tribunal procédera à une inspection sur place. Les tribunaux ont également statué que la culpabilité n'a pas à être prouvée uniquement par des preuves matérielles.
Peut-on prouver une affaire sans produire l'objet physique ?
Oui. La Cour suprême a statué que l'article 241 ne constitue qu'une méthode de recueil de preuves matérielles, et non une exigence de preuve de culpabilité par des preuves physiques ; d'autres preuves, telles qu'une photographie nette, peuvent suffire.
Citer cette section
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Citation simple
Criminal Procedure Code, s. 241 (Thailand) -
Citation académique
Criminal Procedure Code (Thailand), s. 241. ThaiLawOnline, https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-241/ (accessed 1 septembre 2026). -
Citation thaïlandaise
ป.วิ.อ. มาตรา 241 -
Lien permanent
https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-241/ -
Intégrer sur votre site
<blockquote cite="https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-241/"><p>Anything used as material evidence must be brought to the court. Where it cannot be brought, the court shall go to inspect and make a record at the place where the material evidence is located, at such time and in such manner as the court…</p><footer>Criminal Procedure Code, s. 241 (Thailand): <a href="https://www.thailawonline.com/fr/thai-criminal-procedure-code/section-241/">ThaiLawOnline</a></footer></blockquote>
The Thai text is authoritative. The English is an unofficial translation by ThaiLawOnline, free to reuse with attribution.