Section 118 — Leading and prohibited questions
Statutory text (Thai original)
ในการที่คู่ความฝ่ายที่อ้างพยานจะซักถามพยานก็ดี หรือถามติงพยานก็ดี ห้ามมิให้คู่ความฝ่ายนั้นใช้คำถามนำ เว้นแต่คู่ความอีกฝ่ายหนึ่งยินยอมหรือได้รับอนุญาตจากศาลในการที่คู่ความฝ่ายที่อ้างพยานจะถามติงพยาน ห้ามมิให้คู่ความฝ่ายนั้นใช้คำถามอื่นใดนอกจากคำถามที่เกี่ยวกับคำพยานเบิกความตอบคำถามค้านไม่ว่าในกรณีใด ๆ ห้ามไม่ให้คู่ความฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งถามพยานด้วย
(๑) คำถามอันไม่เกี่ยวกับประเด็นแห่งคดี
(๒) คำถามที่อาจทำให้พยาน หรือคู่ความฝ่ายหนึ่งหรือบุคคลภายนอกต้องรับโทษทางอาญา หรือคำถามที่เป็นหมิ่นประมาทพยาน เว้นแต่คำถามเช่นว่านั้นเป็นข้อสาระสำคัญในอันที่จะชี้ขาดข้อพิพาทถ้าคู่ความฝ่ายใดฝ่ายหนึ่งถามพยานฝ่าฝืนต่อบทบัญญัติแห่งมาตรานี้ เมื่อศาลเห็นสมควร หรือเมื่อคู่ความอีกฝ่ายหนึ่งร้องคัดค้าน ศาลมีอำนาจที่จะชี้ขาดว่าควรให้ใช้คำถามนั้นหรือไม่ ในกรณีเช่นนี้ ถ้าคู่ความฝ่ายที่เกี่ยวข้องคัดค้านคำชี้ขาดของศาล ก่อนที่ศาลจะดำเนินคดีต่อไป ให้ศาลจดไว้ในรายงานซึ่งคำถามและข้อคัดค้าน ส่วนเหตุที่คู่ความคัดค้านยกขึ้นอ้างนั้น ให้ศาลใช้ดุลพินิจจดลงไว้ในรายงาน หรือกำหนดให้คู่ความฝ่ายนั้นยื่นคำแถลงเป็นหนังสือเพื่อรวมไว้ในสำนวน
English translation
When the party who cited the witness examines the witness, or re-examines the witness, that party is prohibited from using leading questions, except where the other party consents or the court grants permission. When the party who cited the witness re-examines, that party is prohibited from using any question other than one relating to the witness's testimony given in answer to cross-examination.
In no case may either party ask a witness:
(1) a question not relating to the issues in the case;
(2) a question that may cause the witness, a party, or a third person to incur criminal punishment, or a question that is defamatory of the witness, unless such a question is a material point in deciding the dispute.
If a party asks a witness in contravention of this section, then when the court sees fit, or when the other party objects, the court has the power to rule whether that question should be allowed. In such case, if the party concerned objects to the court's ruling, before the court proceeds further, the court shall record in the report the question and the objection; as for the grounds the party raises for the objection, the court shall in its discretion record them in the report, or require that party to submit a written statement to be included in the case file.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 118 controls the form and content of questions within the examination sequence set by Section 117. Leading questions are barred in examination-in-chief and re-examination, where they would put words in a friendly witness's mouth, but are permissible by consent or leave; re-examination is confined to matters arising from cross-examination. The absolute bars on irrelevant, self-incriminating or defamatory questions protect witnesses and third parties, subject to a materiality exception. The final paragraph creates a precise objection procedure: to preserve a challenge for appeal, the objecting party must obtain a ruling and have the question and objection recorded on the spot, with the grounds either noted by the court or filed in writing. Courts treat this recording requirement as a condition of raising the point later.
Why this matters in practice
Two practical rules matter here. First, do not lead your own witness on contested points, phrase questions openly, and save narrow confirmation for cross-examination of the other side. Second, if the judge overrules your objection to a question, insist on the record: have the question, your objection, and your grounds written into the report there and then, because if you do not, you generally cannot raise the ruling on appeal. This disciplined objecting is a hallmark of effective courtroom work and part of what to expect when your case goes to court in Thailand.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2499/2544 (2001)
Under Section 118 re-examination is confined to matters relating to the witness's cross-examination answers, so a fact that emerges only in re-examination and not in cross-examination cannot be used to benefit the case of the party who cited the witness.
Applying Section 118 through Section 15 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Supreme Court held that a fact appearing only in the witness's re-examination answers, and not in cross-examination, could not be relied on to benefit the prosecution, because on re-examination a party may only ask questions relating to the cross-examination testimony.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 145/2523 (1980)
Under the final paragraph of Section 118 there must be a ruling by the court on whether a question is allowed, and the party must object and have the question and objection recorded immediately; an objection lodged later without following this procedure is ineffective.
The Supreme Court held that the final paragraph of Section 118 requires a ruling on whether a question is allowed and requires the party to object and have the question and objection recorded at once. A party who wishes to challenge the point cannot simply lodge an objection afterwards without following that procedure.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 7083/2537 (1994)
Where a party neither objects nor has the question and objection recorded under the final paragraph of Section 118, there is no ruling of the trial court on the matter that the party can later raise as a ground of appeal.
After the trial court directed counsel to keep questions within the issues, counsel continued to cross-examine outside them, and the questioning was treated as concluded. Because counsel did not object or have the question and objection recorded under the final paragraph of Section 118, the Supreme Court found there was no trial-court ruling that could be raised on further appeal.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
Are leading questions allowed in a Thai civil trial?
Under Section 118 a party may not put leading questions to its own witness during examination-in-chief or re-examination, unless the other party consents or the court permits. Leading questions are normally reserved for cross-examination.
What must you do if the judge rejects your objection to a question?
Section 118 requires that, to preserve the point, you obtain the court's ruling and have the question and your objection recorded at once, with the grounds noted by the court or filed in writing. Otherwise you generally cannot raise it on appeal.