Article 38 — Official's power to compound
Texte légal (original thaï)
ความผิดตามอนุมาตรา
(๒)
(๓) และ
(๔) แห่งมาตราก่อน ถ้าเจ้าพนักงานดังกล่าวในมาตรานั้นเห็นว่าผู้ต้องหาไม่ควรได้รับโทษถึงจำคุกให้มีอำนาจเปรียบเทียบดังนี้
(๑) ให้กำหนดค่าปรับซึ่งผู้ต้องหาจะพึงชำระ ถ้าผู้ต้องหาและผู้เสียหายยินยอมตามนั้น เมื่อผู้ต้องหาได้ชำระเงินค่าปรับตามจำนวนที่เจ้าหน้าที่กำหนดให้ภายในเวลาอันสมควรแต่ไม่เกินสิบห้าวันแล้ว คดีนั้นเป็นอันเสร็จเด็ดขาดถ้าผู้ต้องหาไม่ยินยอมตามที่เปรียบเทียบ หรือเมื่อยินยอมแล้ว ไม่ชำระเงินค่าปรับภายในเวลากำหนดในวรรคก่อน ให้ดำเนินคดีต่อไป
(๒) ในคดีมีค่าทดแทน ถ้าผู้เสียหายและผู้ต้องหายินยอมให้เปรียบเทียบ ให้เจ้าหน้าที่กะจำนวนตามที่เห็นควรหรือตามที่คู่ความตกลงกัน
traduction anglaise
For offences under sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) of the preceding section, if the official mentioned in that section is of the opinion that the alleged offender should not receive a penalty as severe as imprisonment, the official has the power to compound as follows:
(1) To fix the fine which the alleged offender is to pay. If the alleged offender and the injured person agree accordingly, and the alleged offender has paid the fine in the amount fixed by the official within a reasonable time but not exceeding fifteen days, the case is finally settled. If the alleged offender does not agree to the compounding, or having agreed does not pay the fine within the time fixed in the preceding paragraph, the case shall be further proceeded with.
(2) In a case involving compensation, if the injured person and the alleged offender agree to the compounding, the official shall assess the amount as he thinks fit or as the parties agree.
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 38 supplies the mechanism behind Section 37 for the offences in sub-sections (2), (3) and (4): where the official thinks imprisonment is not warranted, the official may compound by fixing a fine. Sub-section (1) makes the settlement final only if the alleged offender and the injured person agree and the fine is paid within a reasonable time, not exceeding fifteen days; otherwise the case proceeds. Sub-section (2) lets the official assess compensation where the parties agree. The compounding power is personal to the official with authority under Section 37, though other officials may lawfully assist, and a person who is not properly the alleged offender cannot be compounded.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
For an eligible minor offence, agreeing to a compounding and paying within fifteen days ends the matter conclusively, but note two conditions: the injured person must also agree, and the person compounded must genuinely be the alleged offender. If either condition is missing, the compounding is invalid and the case can proceed. Where a compounding also touches compensation to a victim, confirm the assessed amount reflects what was actually agreed. When in doubt about whether an offence can be compounded, ask a Thai lawyer.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2413/2521 (1978)
An inquiry official has no duty to compound under Section 38(2) a person who is not the alleged offender in the case, so a statement by such a person cannot amount to giving a false statement to an official.
Because the defendant was not the accused in the car-crash case, the inquiry official had no duty to compound the matter under Section 38(2). It followed that the defendant's statement to the official did not constitute the offence of giving a false statement to an official.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1289/2508 (1965)
Once an inquiry official has conclusively compounded and fined a single act that violates several laws under Sections 37 and 38, the right to prosecute the related charge arising from that act is extinguished under Section 39(3).
The defendant's single act violated several laws. After the inquiry official compounded and fined that act conclusively under Sections 37 and 38, the court held the right to prosecute the further charge of unlawful possession of the disputed land arising from the same act was extinguished under Section 39(3), and the charge was dismissed.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2565/2565 (2022)
The power to compound under Sections 38 and 144 is the inquiry official's own function, but this does not mean the official must do every step personally, since Section 128 allows some tasks to be delegated to other officers.
The court held that although compounding under the Land Traffic Act is the inquiry official's function under Sections 38 and 144, the official need not perform every part personally. Section 128(1) and (2) allow the official to request or direct other officers to assist, so a person who helped the inquiry official record the compounding did not make it unlawful.
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
How does an official compound a minor offence?
Under Section 38, where imprisonment is not warranted, the official fixes a fine. If the offender and the injured person agree and the fine is paid within a reasonable time, not exceeding fifteen days, the case is finally settled.
What happens if the fine is not paid within fifteen days?
If the alleged offender does not agree to the compounding, or agrees but does not pay within the time fixed, not exceeding fifteen days, the case is not settled and proceeds in the normal way.
Can just anyone be compounded under Section 38?
No. Only the genuine alleged offender may be compounded. If the person is not properly the alleged offender in the case, the official has no duty or power to compound them.