Section 119 bis — Appeal against denial of bail
Statutory text (Thai original)
ในกรณีที่ศาลสั่งไม่อนุญาตให้ปล่อยชั่วคราว
ผู้ร้องขอมีสิทธิยื่นคำร้องอุทธรณ์คำสั่งนั้นได้ ดังต่อไปนี้(๑)
คำสั่งของศาลชั้นต้น ให้อุทธรณ์ไปยังศาลอุทธรณ์(๒)
คำสั่งของศาลอุทธรณ์ ให้อุทธรณ์ไปยังศาลฎีกา
ให้ศาลชั้นต้นที่รับคำร้องอุทธรณ์คำสั่งรีบส่งคำร้องดังกล่าวพร้อมด้วยสำนวนความ
หรือสำเนาสำนวนความเท่าที่จำเป็นไปยังศาลอุทธรณ์หรือศาลฎีกา แล้วแต่กรณี เพื่อพิจารณา และมีคำสั่งโดยเร็ว
คำสั่งของศาลอุทธรณ์ที่ไม่อนุญาตให้ปล่อยชั่วคราวยืนตามศาลชั้นต้นให้เป็นที่สุด แต่ทั้งนี้ ไม่ตัดสิทธิที่จะยื่นคำร้องให้ปล่อยชั่วคราวใหม่
English translation
Where the court orders that provisional release be denied, the applicant has the right to file an appeal against that order as follows: (1) an order of the Court of First Instance shall be appealed to the Court of Appeal; (2) an order of the Court of Appeal shall be appealed to the Supreme Court. The Court of First Instance that receives the appeal against the order shall promptly forward that appeal, together with the case file or so much of a copy of the case file as is necessary, to the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, as the case may be, for consideration and prompt ruling. An order of the Court of Appeal denying provisional release that affirms the Court of First Instance shall be final, but this does not cut off the right to file a fresh 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
This provision sits in Chapter 3 (Provisional Release) and sets out the ladder of appeal when bail is refused: trial court to Court of Appeal, and Court of Appeal to Supreme Court. It obliges the receiving court to forward the appeal and file quickly, reflecting the urgency of detention questions. The finality rule in the last paragraph applies only where the Court of Appeal affirms a denial, and it expressly preserves the right to lodge a new application, so a refusal is never a permanent bar to release.
Why this matters in practice
If bail is refused, do not treat it as the end of the road. You have a clear right to appeal one level up, and the courts must handle the appeal quickly because your liberty is at stake. Even when the Court of Appeal affirms a refusal and the order becomes final, Section 119/2 preserves your right to file a fresh bail application, for example when circumstances change or you can offer a stronger surety. It helps to move quickly with an online consultation with a Thai lawyer to prepare a stronger renewed request.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 107/2537 (1994)
The finality rule in Section 119/2 paragraph three applies where the Court of Appeal affirms a denial of provisional release; a trial court's exercise of discretion to revoke provisional release rests on the criteria in Section 108, aimed at protecting witnesses and the integrity of proceedings.
The defendant challenged the revocation of provisional release. The Supreme Court discussed Section 119/2 paragraph three and explained that the trial court had revoked release under the Section 108 criteria because continued release could endanger witnesses and harm the court's proceedings, a matter within the trial court's discretion.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
Can you appeal a refusal of bail in Thailand?
Yes. Under Section 119/2, a trial court's refusal can be appealed to the Court of Appeal, and a Court of Appeal refusal can be appealed to the Supreme Court.
If the Court of Appeal upholds a bail refusal, is that the end?
The order is final in that instance, but Section 119/2 expressly preserves the right to file a fresh application for provisional release.
How fast must the court decide a bail appeal?
The Court of First Instance must promptly forward the appeal with the case file, and the higher court must consider and rule promptly, reflecting the urgency of detention.