Article 85 — Search of the person and seizure of evidence
Texte légal (original thaï)
เจ้าพนักงานผู้จับหรือรับตัวผู้จับไว้ มีอำนาจค้นตัวผู้ต้องหา และยึดสิ่งของต่าง ๆ ที่อาจใช้เป็นพยานหลักฐานได้การค้นนั้นจักต้องทำโดยสุภาพ ถ้าค้นผู้หญิงต้องให้หญิงอื่นเป็นผู้ค้นสิ่งของใดที่ยึดไว้เจ้าพนักงานมีอำนาจยึดไว้จนกว่าคดีถึงที่สุด เมื่อเสร็จคดีแล้วก็ให้คืนแก่ผู้ต้องหาหรือแก่ผู้อื่นซึ่งมีสิทธิเรียกร้องขอคืนสิ่งของนั้น เว้นแต่ศาลจะสั่งเป็นอย่างอื่น
traduction anglaise
The officer who makes the arrest or who receives the arrested person has the power to search the body of the accused and to seize the various articles that may be used as evidence. Such search must be conducted with propriety; if a woman is searched, another woman must be the searcher. Any article seized may be retained by the officer until the case is final. When the case is concluded, it shall be returned to the accused or to another person who has the right to claim the return of that article, unless the court orders otherwise.
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 85 confers the power to search the arrested person and to seize potential evidence, subject to safeguards on decency and same-sex searching for women. It also sets the custody-of-property regime: seized articles may be held until the case is final, then returned to the accused or another rightful claimant unless the court orders otherwise. Within Chapter 1 it follows the arrest and handover provisions of sections 83 and 84 and is complemented by section 85/1, which lets owners apply to recover non-contraband items during the investigation. It is distinct from the search powers in Chapter 2 (Search).
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
If your property is seized on arrest, keep the seizure record: the item can be held only until the case is final and must then be returned unless the court forfeits it. A female suspect who is body-searched by a man may have grounds to challenge the search. Where the seized item is valuable and you want it back during the case, a lawyer can pursue the recovery route; consider a consultation with a Thai lawyer to protect your rights.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 814/2565 (2022)
Officials empowered to seize goods connected with an offense (here customs officers) may hold the seized goods until the criminal case is final, consistent with Section 85 paragraph three.
The court upheld the customs authority's power to detain the disputed imported goods until the criminal case was final, referring to Section 85 paragraph three on retaining seized articles.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1856/2568 (2025)
Where the prosecutor decides not to seek forfeiture of a seized item, the investigating officer handles the property under Section 85, including appointing a committee to examine it and return it to the person entitled to receive it back.
After the prosecutor declined forfeiture and directed handling under Section 85, the police set up a committee that resolved to return the seized vehicle to the person entitled to its care during the proceedings.
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 police search my body when they arrest me in Thailand?
Yes. Section 85 lets the arresting or receiving officer search the accused and seize items that may be evidence, but the search must be done with propriety and a woman must be searched by another woman.
When will seized property be returned?
Under Section 85, an officer may keep a seized article until the case is final, and when the case ends it must be returned to the accused or another rightful claimant unless the court orders otherwise.
Must a woman be searched by a woman?
Yes. Section 85 expressly requires that if a woman is searched, another woman must conduct the search.