Article 45 — Civil action not barred by criminal charge
Texte légal (original thaï)
คดีเรื่องใดถึงแม้ว่าได้ฟ้องในทางอาญาแล้ว ก็ไม่ตัดสิทธิผู้เสียหายที่จะฟ้องในทางแพ่งอีก
traduction anglaise
In any case, even though a criminal charge has already been filed, the injured person's right to bring a civil action as well is not barred.
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 45 confirms that criminal and civil remedies for the same act are cumulative, not alternatives: a pending or filed criminal prosecution does not extinguish the victim's separate right to sue civilly. It underpins the whole scheme of civil actions connected with criminal cases in Title 2. It must be read with section 46, under which the civil court is bound by the facts found in the criminal judgment; where the criminal result is not yet available, the civil court retains discretion to proceed on the evidence in its own file. It also connects to sections 43 and 44, since if the prosecutor does not claim restitution for the victim, the victim may pursue the loss civilly.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
You do not have to choose between pressing charges and suing for your money: both can run. In practice, though, the civil court will normally follow the facts settled in the criminal judgment, so the outcome and even the timing of your civil claim can turn on how the criminal case goes. If the criminal case is still open, a civil court may still proceed on its own evidence. Deciding whether to file the civil suit now or wait for the criminal verdict is a strategic call worth discussing in a consultation with a Thai lawyer.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 8516/2561 (2018)
Even though Section 46 binds the civil court to the facts in a criminal judgment, where the criminal result is not yet apparent the civil forum may proceed and decide on the evidence in the file.
Quoting Section 45 that a criminal charge does not bar a civil action, the Court held that although Section 46 requires the civil forum to follow the facts in a criminal judgment, an arbitrator or civil court need not wait where the criminal result has not yet emerged, and may proceed on the evidence available.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1785/2554 (2011)
Theft is both a crime and a civil wrong; if the prosecutor does not claim return of the property for the victim, the victim may sue the taker civilly under Sections 43, 44 and 45.
The Court described theft as a criminal offence and a civil tort at once. When the prosecutor files the criminal charge, restitution should be claimed for the victim; but if the prosecutor does not, the victim retains the right under Sections 43, 44 and 45 to sue the taker civilly for return of the property and damages.
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 I sue civilly if a criminal case for the same act is already filed?
Yes. Section 45 provides that filing a criminal charge does not bar the injured person from bringing a separate civil action over the same wrong.
Will the civil court just follow the criminal verdict?
Where a criminal judgment exists, the civil court must follow its facts under Section 46. But if the criminal result is not yet available, the civil court may proceed on the evidence before it.