Section 165/2 — Defendant's Statement at Preliminary Hearing
Statutory text (Thai original)
ในการไต่สวนมูลฟ้อง จำเลยอาจแถลงให้ศาลทราบถึงข้อเท็จจริงหรือข้อกฎหมายอันสำคัญที่ศาลควรสั่งว่าคดีไม่มีมูล
และจะระบุในคำแถลงถึงตัวบุคคล เอกสาร หรือวัตถุที่จะสนับสนุนข้อเท็จจริงตามคำแถลงของจำเลยด้วยก็ได้
กรณีเช่นว่านี้ ศาลอาจเรียกบุคคล เอกสาร หรือวัตถุดังกล่าวมาเป็นพยานศาลเพื่อประกอบการวินิจฉัยสั่งคดีได้ตามที่จำเป็นและสมควร
โดยโจทก์และจำเลยอาจถามพยานศาลได้เมื่อได้รับอนุญาตจากศาล
English translation
At the preliminary hearing, the defendant may state to the court facts or important points of law on which the court ought to rule that the case has no prima facie basis, and may specify in the statement the persons, documents, or objects that will support the facts stated by the defendant. In such a case, the court may summon such persons, documents, or objects as witnesses of the court to assist in deciding the case, as necessary and appropriate, and the prosecutor and the defendant may question the court's witnesses when permitted by the court.
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, in the Title on filing criminal charges and the preliminary hearing, gives the defendant a limited but meaningful role during a private prosecutor's preliminary hearing, where the defendant is otherwise not yet a full party to a trial. It lets the defendant flag facts or law suggesting the case has no prima facie basis and to point the court to supporting persons, documents, or objects. Any such material comes in as a witness of the court, not of a party, and the court decides whether calling it is necessary and appropriate before deciding under Section 167 whether the case has merit. It complements Section 165, which governs how the private prosecutor presents evidence at the preliminary hearing.
Why this matters in practice
For a defendant facing a private prosecution, this is an early chance to help persuade the court that the case is groundless before it is even accepted for trial, which can spare the cost and stress of a full defense. The material offered becomes the court's witness, so it is not confined to the defendant's own case, but the court retains discretion over whether to call it. A defendant deciding how aggressively to use this stage should get case-specific advice through an online consultation with a Thai lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Can a defendant present evidence at the preliminary hearing stage?
Under Section 165/2, a defendant may state facts or law showing the case has no merit and identify persons, documents, or objects to support that. The court may then summon them as witnesses of the court if it finds it necessary and appropriate.
Are these called defense witnesses?
No. Anything summoned under Section 165/2 comes in as a witness of the court, not of the defendant, to help the court decide whether the case has a prima facie basis. Both the prosecutor and defendant may question them with the court's permission.