Section 109 — Objection in serious cases
Statutory text (Thai original)
ในกรณีที่ผู้ต้องหาหรือจำเลยต้องหาหรือถูกฟ้องในความผิดมีอัตราโทษจำคุกอย่างสูงเกินสิบปี ถ้ามีคำร้องขอให้ปล่อยชั่วคราว ในระหว่างสอบสวนหรือระหว่างการพิจารณาของศาลชั้นต้น ศาลจะต้องถามพนักงานสอบสวน พนักงานอัยการ หรือโจทก์ว่าจะคัดค้านประการใดหรือไม่ ถ้าไม่อาจถามได้โดยมีเหตุอันควรศาลจะงดการถามเสียก็ได้แต่ต้องบันทึกเหตุนั้นไว้
English translation
In a case where the accused or defendant is charged with or prosecuted for an offence carrying a maximum term of imprisonment exceeding ten years, if an application for provisional release is made during the inquiry or during the trial of the Court of First Instance, the court must ask the inquiry official, the public prosecutor, or the plaintiff whether they have any objection. If the inquiry cannot be made for reasonable cause, the court may dispense with it, but must record that cause.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 109 adds a procedural safeguard for serious cases, those carrying a maximum penalty above ten years, by making it mandatory for the court to seek the view of the inquiry official, prosecutor, or plaintiff before ruling on bail during the inquiry or the first-instance trial. It works alongside Section 108, which already lets the court receive an objection as a factor; here the consultation is compulsory rather than optional. The court retains a narrow escape valve: it may dispense with the question for reasonable cause, but must record that cause, preserving a reviewable record. The ten-year threshold aligns with Section 110, which sets stricter security rules for the same class of case.
Why this matters in practice
In a serious case, the prosecution normally gets to state its position on bail before the court rules, so the defence should expect and prepare to meet an objection. If the court skips the consultation, check that a reason was recorded, because failing to record it is a procedural irregularity. Serious charges reward early legal preparation: see /what-to-know-before-you-go-to-court-in-thailand/.
Frequently asked questions
When must the court ask the prosecution about a bail request?
Under Section 109, in a case whose maximum penalty exceeds ten years, the court must ask the inquiry official, prosecutor, or plaintiff whether they object before ruling on bail during the inquiry or the first-instance trial.
Can the court skip asking the prosecution about bail?
Yes, but only for reasonable cause, and the court must record that cause. Otherwise the consultation is mandatory in cases with a maximum penalty over ten years.