Section 98 — Scope of search and seizure
Statutory text (Thai original)
การค้นในที่รโหฐานนั้นจะค้นได้แต่เฉพาะเพื่อหาตัวคนหรือสิ่งของที่ต้องการค้นเท่านั้น แต่มีข้อยกเว้นดังนี้
(๑) ในกรณีที่ค้นหาสิ่งของโดยไม่จำกัดสิ่ง เจ้าพนักงานผู้ค้นมีอำนาจยึดสิ่งของใด ๆ ซึ่งน่าจะใช้เป็นพยานหลักฐานเพื่อเป็นประโยชน์หรือยันผู้ต้องหาหรือจำเลย
(๒) เจ้าพนักงานซึ่งทำการค้นมีอำนาจจับบุคคลหรือสิ่งของอื่นในที่ค้นนั้นได้ เมื่อมีหมายอีกต่างหาก หรือในกรณีความผิดซึ่งหน้า
English translation
A search in a private place may be made only to find the person or thing that is the object of the search. The exceptions are as follows:
(1) In the case of a search for property without limitation as to the thing, the officer conducting the search has the power to seize any property that is likely to be useful as evidence for the benefit of, or against, the suspect or the accused;
(2) The officer conducting the search has the power to arrest a person, or to seize other things at the place searched, where there is a separate warrant, or in the case of an offence committed in flagrante.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 98 confines a search to its stated object, so officers cannot use one search as a general licence to look for anything. The two exceptions preserve practical investigative needs: (1) allows seizure of any likely evidence where the search itself was not limited to a named item, and (2) allows arrest or further seizure where a separate warrant exists or a flagrant offence appears. It reads with Section 92 (grounds and objects of the search), Section 78 (arrest without warrant for a flagrant offence) and Section 85 (search of the person).
Why this matters in practice
This section protects against a search creeping beyond its purpose. If a warrant targets specific items but officers seize unrelated property, or arrest people not covered by any warrant, the exceptions in Section 98 must apply, otherwise the seizure or arrest may be challenged. When you review a search record, check whether what was seized matches the object of the search. For help assessing this, consider an online consultation with a Thai lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Can police seize items not named in the search warrant?
Under Section 98, they may seize any property likely to be useful as evidence where the search was not limited to a specific item, and may seize other things or arrest a person where there is a separate warrant or a flagrant offence.
Is a search limited to what it was authorised to find?
Yes. Section 98 states a search may be made only to find the person or thing that is its object, subject to the two exceptions in the section.