Section 7/1 — Rights of an arrested person in custody
Statutory text (Thai original)
ผู้ถูกจับหรือผู้ต้องหาซึ่งถูกควบคุมหรือขังมีสิทธิแจ้งหรือขอให้เจ้าพนักงานแจ้งให้ญาติหรือผู้ซึ่งผู้ถูกจับหรือผู้ต้องหาไว้วางใจทราบถึงการถูกจับกุมและสถานที่ที่ถูกควบคุมในโอกาสแรกและให้ผู้ถูกจับหรือผู้ต้องหามีสิทธิดังต่อไปนี้ด้วย
(๑) พบและปรึกษาผู้ซึ่งจะเป็นทนายความเป็นการเฉพาะตัว
(๒)
ให้ทนายความหรือผู้ซึ่งตนไว้วางใจเข้าฟังการสอบปากคำตนได้ในชั้นสอบสวน
(๓) ได้รับการเยี่ยมหรือติดต่อกับญาติได้ตามสมควร
(๔)
ได้รับการรักษาพยาบาลโดยเร็วเมื่อเกิดการเจ็บป่วย
ให้พนักงานฝ่ายปกครองหรือตำรวจซึ่งรับมอบตัวผู้ถูกจับหรือผู้ต้องหามีหน้าที่แจ้งให้ผู้ถูกจับหรือผู้ต้องหานั้นทราบในโอกาสแรกถึงสิทธิตามวรรคหนึ่ง
English translation
An arrested person or an alleged offender who is held in custody or detained has the right to inform, or to have the official inform, a relative or a person whom the arrested person or alleged offender trusts, of the arrest and the place of custody at the first opportunity, and the arrested person or alleged offender shall also have the following rights:
(1) to meet and consult privately with the person who is to be his counsel;
(2) to have his counsel or a person he trusts present during his interrogation at the inquiry stage;
(3) to receive visits from, or to communicate with, relatives as appropriate;
(4) to receive prompt medical treatment when ill.
The administrative or police official who takes custody of the arrested person or alleged offender has the duty to inform that person, at the first opportunity, of the rights under paragraph one.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 7/1 is a due-process safeguard added to protect the arrested person and suspect from the moment of arrest through the inquiry stage. Its rights, especially the right under (2) to have counsel or a trusted person present during interrogation, interlock with Sections 134/3 and 134/4 on questioning suspects. The Supreme Court has treated these protections as extending to a person who is in substance under arrest even if not formally interrogated as a suspect, and a confession taken without informing the person of these rights is vulnerable as evidence.
Why this matters in practice
If you or someone you know is arrested in Thailand, Section 7/1 means you can insist that a relative or trusted person be told where you are, meet a lawyer privately, and have that lawyer present during questioning. Exercise these rights immediately, and say nothing substantive before your lawyer arrives, because statements taken without proper rights warnings can later be challenged. Arranging a consultation with a Thai lawyer at the first opportunity is critical.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 6820/2567 (2024)
A person who is in substance under arrest is entitled to the Section 7/1 protections, and statements amounting to a confession taken without those rights and charge warnings cannot be relied on as evidence.
Although the persons were not formally interrogated as suspects, the Court held they had to be treated as arrested persons entitled to the Section 7/1 rights, including a private meeting with counsel and having counsel present during questioning. Where their statements were in the nature of a confession but no rights or charge warning had been given, those statements could not be used against them at trial.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 3119/2550 (2007)
Section 7/1(2) gives a suspect the right to have counsel or a trusted person present during interrogation, read together with the questioning safeguards in Sections 134/3 and 134/4.
The defendant argued the inquiry was unlawful because he was not told he could have a lawyer or trusted person present during questioning and none was allowed in. The Court examined this under Section 7/1(2), which grants that right at the inquiry stage, together with Sections 134/3 and 134/4 on informing and questioning suspects.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 4146/2550 (2007)
Whether a failure to give Section 7/1 warnings invalidates the arrest and inquiry depends on whether the amendment introducing those rights was already in force at the time of the arrest and questioning.
The defendant contended that police did not inform him of the Section 7/1 right to have relatives notified, nor of the Section 134/4 rights. The Court examined the challenge in light of when the amending Act introducing those provisions came into force relative to the time of his arrest and interrogation.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
What are my rights if I am arrested in Thailand?
Under Section 7/1 you may have a relative or trusted person told of your arrest and where you are held, meet a lawyer privately, have counsel present during questioning, receive visits, and get prompt medical care.
Can I have a lawyer present during police questioning?
Yes. Section 7/1(2) gives an arrested person or suspect the right to have a lawyer or a trusted person present during interrogation at the inquiry stage.
What happens if the police do not tell me my rights?
The rights warning is mandatory, and courts have held that a confession obtained without informing the person of these rights can be challenged as evidence.