Section 150 bis — Tampering with a corpse or scene
Statutory text (Thai original)
ผู้ใดกระทำการใด ๆ
แก่ศพหรือสภาพแวดล้อมในบริเวณที่พบศพก่อนการชันสูตรพลิกศพเสร็จสิ้น
ในประการที่น่าจะทำให้การชันสูตรพลิกศพหรือผลทางคดีเปลี่ยนแปลงไป
เว้นแต่จำเป็นต้องกระทำเพื่อป้องกันอันตรายแก่อนามัยของประชาชนหรือเพื่อประโยชน์สาธารณะอย่างอื่นต้องระวางโทษจำคุกตั้งแต่หกเดือนถึงสองปี
หรือปรับตั้งแต่หนึ่งหมื่นบาทถึงสี่หมื่นบาท หรือทั้งจำทั้งปรับ
ถ้าการกระทำความผิดตามวรรคหนึ่งเป็นการกระทำโดยทุจริตหรือเพื่ออำพรางคดีผู้กระทำต้องระวางโทษเป็นสองเท่าของโทษที่กำหนดไว้สำหรับความผิดนั้น
English translation
Whoever does any act to a corpse, or to the surrounding environment at the place where the corpse is found, before the inquest is completed, in a manner likely to cause the inquest or the outcome of the case to change, except where it is necessary to do so to prevent danger to public health or for another public benefit, shall be liable to imprisonment from six months to two years, or a fine from ten thousand baht to forty thousand baht, or both. If the offence under the first paragraph is committed dishonestly or to disguise the case, the offender shall be liable to double the penalty prescribed for that offence.
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 is the penal backstop to the inquest regime, criminalizing interference with a corpse or the scene that could distort the inquest or the case result. It protects the integrity of the fact-finding under sections 148 to 150 by deterring evidence-spoiling before the inquest concludes, subject to a narrow public-health or public-benefit exception. The aggravated second paragraph doubles the penalty where the act is dishonest or aimed at disguising the case, and in practice it is often charged alongside Penal Code offences such as moving a corpse to conceal a death.
Why this matters in practice
This is a real criminal exposure, not a formality: moving, cleaning, or altering a body or death scene before the inquest can lead to imprisonment, and much more if done to cover something up. The safe course after an unnatural death is to preserve the scene and call the authorities, doing only what public health strictly requires. If you are accused of such conduct, the dishonest-or-disguise element that doubles the penalty is a key issue, and a licensed Thai lawyer should review the facts promptly.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 10278/2555 (2012)
Moving a corpse to conceal the cause of death and disguise the offence falls under section 150 ทวิ paragraph two, the aggravated form of the offence.
The defendant moved the corpse to conceal the cause of death and disguise his own offence and had confessed from the outset; the act was punished under Penal Code section 199 together with section 150 ทวิ paragraph two, and he was sentenced on multiple counts including the killing.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 20377/2555 (2012)
Acting on a corpse or death scene in the aggravated manner is charged under section 150 ทวิ paragraph two, read with the Penal Code where committed jointly.
The prosecution charged the defendants under Penal Code provisions together with section 150 ทวิ; the trial court convicted the confessing defendants under section 150 ทวิ paragraph two read with the joint-principal provision, and the Supreme Court corrected the judgment as a matter affecting the nature of the case.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
Is it illegal to move a body before an inquest?
Yes. Under section 150 ทวิ, doing any act to a corpse or the scene before the inquest is completed, in a way likely to change the inquest or case outcome, is an offence, unless necessary for public health or another public benefit.
What is the penalty under section 150 ทวิ?
Imprisonment from six months to two years, or a fine from ten thousand to forty thousand baht, or both; the penalty is doubled if the act is committed dishonestly or to disguise the case.