Section 222/7 — Class action linked to a criminal case
Statutory text (Thai original)
ในกรณีที่การฟ้องคดีแบบกลุ่มตามบทบัญญัติแห่งหมวดนี้เป็นคดีแพ่งเกี่ยวเนื่องกับคดีอาญา แม้ว่าจะมีการฟ้องเป็นคดีอาญาแล้วก็ตาม ศาลที่พิจารณาคดีแบบกลุ่มอาจพิจารณาคดีต่อไปโดยไม่ต้องรอให้ศาลคดีอาญามีคำพิพากษาก่อน และหากศาลในคดีอาญาได้มีคำพิพากษาแล้ว
(๑) ในกรณีที่คำพิพากษาคดีส่วนอาญานั้นได้วินิจฉัยว่าจำเลยได้กระทำความผิด ศาลที่พิจารณาคดีแบบกลุ่มต้องถือข้อเท็จจริงตามที่ปรากฏในคำพิพากษาคดีส่วนอาญา
(๒) ในกรณีที่คำพิพากษาคดีส่วนอาญานั้นได้วินิจฉัยเป็นอย่างอื่น ศาลที่พิจารณาคดีแบบกลุ่มไม่จำต้องถือข้อเท็จจริงตามที่ปรากฏในคำพิพากษาคดีส่วนอาญา
English translation
Where a class action under the provisions of this Chapter is a civil case connected with a criminal case, even though a criminal prosecution has already been instituted, the court trying the class action may proceed with the case without waiting for the criminal court to render judgment first. And once the criminal court has rendered judgment:
(1) where the judgment in the criminal part has decided that the defendant committed the offense, the court trying the class action must take the facts as they appear in the judgment in the criminal part;
(2) where the judgment in the criminal part has decided otherwise, the court trying the class action need not take the facts as they appear in the judgment in the criminal part.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
This section, part of the B.E. 2558 (2015) class action amendment, adapts the general rule on civil cases connected with criminal cases to the class action setting. It has two effects. First, to avoid holding up large group litigation, the class court may press on without waiting for the criminal judgment, unlike the usual expectation that a related civil case follows the criminal one. Second, it sets an asymmetric binding rule: a criminal conviction fixes the facts for the class court, but an acquittal or other outcome does not, leaving the class court free to weigh the civil evidence on the lower civil standard of proof. This mirrors the logic of Section 46 of the Criminal Procedure Code for connected civil claims.
Why this matters in practice
If your group's harm also amounts to a crime, the class action does not have to stall while the criminal prosecution runs its course, which can save years. A criminal conviction is powerful because it locks in the facts for the class case, but an acquittal is not fatal, since the civil claim is judged on the balance of probabilities, not beyond reasonable doubt. Working out how a parallel criminal case affects your class claim is best done with a lawyer, so consider a consultation with a Thai lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Does a class action have to wait for a related criminal case?
No. Under Section 222/7 the court trying the class action may proceed without waiting for the criminal court to render judgment first.
Is the class court bound by the criminal verdict?
Only one way. Under Section 222/7 a criminal conviction binds the class court on the facts, but an acquittal or other outcome does not.