Section 108/1 — Grounds to refuse bail
Statutory text (Thai original)
การสั่งไม่ให้ปล่อยชั่วคราว
จะกระทำได้ต่อเมื่อมีเหตุอันควรเชื่อเหตุใดเหตุหนึ่งดังต่อไปนี้
(๑) ผู้ต้องหาหรือจำเลยจะหลบหนี
(๒)
ผู้ต้องหาหรือจำเลยจะไปยุ่งเหยิงกับพยานหลักฐาน
(๓)
ผู้ต้องหาหรือจำเลยจะไปก่อเหตุอันตรายประการอื่น
(๔)
ผู้ร้องขอประกันหรือหลักประกันไม่น่าเชื่อถือ
(๕) การปล่อยชั่วคราวจะเป็นอุปสรรคหรือก่อให้เกิดความเสียหายต่อการสอบสวนของเจ้าพนักงานหรือการดำเนินคดีในศาลคำสั่งไม่ให้ปล่อยชั่วคราวต้องแสดงเหตุผล
และต้องแจ้งเหตุดังกล่าวให้ผู้ต้องหาหรือจำเลยและผู้ยื่นคำร้องขอให้ปล่อยชั่วคราวทราบเป็นหนังสือโดยเร็ว
English translation
An order refusing provisional release may be made only where there is reasonable ground to believe any one of the following: (1) the accused or defendant will abscond; (2) the accused or defendant will tamper with the evidence; (3) the accused or defendant will go on to cause other danger; (4) the applicant for bail or the security is not trustworthy; (5) the provisional release will obstruct or cause damage to the official's inquiry or to the proceedings in court. An order refusing provisional release must state the reasons, and such reasons must be notified in writing without delay to the accused or defendant and to the person who filed the application for provisional release.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 108/1 is the counterpart to Section 108: where Section 108 lists what to weigh, Section 108/1 confines the power to refuse. Refusal is lawful only on a closed list of five grounds, each requiring reasonable ground to believe, which reinforces the Section 107 principle that release is the norm. The duty to state reasons and to notify them in writing without delay gives the accused a documented basis for challenging or renewing the application. Read together with the Section 108 factors, this section marks the line between a permissible and an arbitrary denial of bail.
Why this matters in practice
If bail is denied, insist on the written reasons this section requires: they tell you which of the five grounds is being relied on and let you address it directly in a renewed application or a challenge. Because the grounds are a closed list, a refusal resting on something outside them is open to attack. Preparing that response is a common reason to seek advice: see /how-to-choose-a-lawyer-in-thailand/.
Frequently asked questions
On what grounds can bail be refused in Thailand?
Section 108/1 allows refusal only on reasonable ground to believe one of five things: the accused will abscond, will tamper with evidence, will cause other danger, that the surety or security is untrustworthy, or that release will obstruct the inquiry or court proceedings.
Must the court give reasons when bail is denied?
Yes. Section 108/1 requires the refusal to state its reasons and to notify them in writing without delay to the accused or defendant and to the person who filed the bail application.