Whoever commits rape on another person by threatening by any means whatsoever, by using force, while such other person is in a state of being unable to resist, or by causing such other person to mistake the offender for another person, shall be punished with imprisonment of four to twenty years and fined of eighty thousand to four hundred thousand Baht. If the offense under paragraph one is committed by having or using a firearm or explosive, or jointly committed in the nature of gang rape of a woman or the like act against a man, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of fifteen to twenty years and fined of three hundred thousand to four hundred thousand Baht, or imprisonment for life.
Sexual OffensesความผิดทางเพศGender-Neutralเป็นกลางทางเพศLandmark Amendmentแก้ไขสำคัญ
Why This Section Mattersทำไมมาตรานี้จึงสำคัญ
Section 276 defines rape and its punishment (4-20 years imprisonment). The landmark 2019 amendment (Act No. 27) made the definition gender-neutral, recognizing that victims and perpetrators can be of any gender.
The 2019 gender-neutral reform means that male victims are now explicitly protected. The 2025 amendment (Act No. 30) further expanded the definition of 'sexual intercourse' in Section 1(18).
The defendant coerced the victim into sexual intercourse by threatening to harm the victim's family members. The victim submitted out of fear. The Supreme Court convicted the defendant of rape under Section 276, holding that consent obtained through threats of harm to the victim or the victim's family members is not valid consent. The Court emphasized that consent must be freely and voluntarily given without coercion, intimidation, or threats. Submission induced by fear of violence does not constitute consent. The threat need not be directed at the victim personally; threats against close family members are equally sufficient to vitiate consent under the provision.
The defendant was convicted of attempted rape (พยายามข่มขืนกระทำชำเรา). The defendant's actions constituted a single continuous act violating multiple criminal statutes (Sections 276, 277 bis, 297, 364, 365). The Supreme Court corrected the sentencing to impose punishment under the most severe provision per Section 90. This case established the principle that when a sexual assault constitutes multiple offenses in a single continuous act, the heaviest penalty provision applies.
Disclaimer: The English translation is unofficial and for informational purposes only. The authoritative text is in Thai as published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette (Ratchakitchanubeksa).ข้อสงวนสิทธิ์: คำแปลภาษาอังกฤษเป็นคำแปลอย่างไม่เป็นทางการ เพื่อวัตถุประสงค์ในการให้ข้อมูลเท่านั้น ข้อความที่เป็นทางการเป็นภาษาไทยตามที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุเบกษา