Section 124 — Obtaining national security secrets
English translation
Whoever commits any act in order to obtain any statement, document or article kept secret for the safety of the country shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding ten years.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 124 criminalises the acquisition side of national security secrets and opens a small group of espionage-type provisions in the external-security chapter. Its elements are an act carried out for the purpose of obtaining a statement, document or article, and the requirement that the item be kept secret for the safety of the country. The focus is on the purpose of obtaining, so completion does not require that the secret was actually acquired or passed on. It works in tandem with Section 125 (disclosure), Section 126 (acting for a foreign state) and Section 127 (espionage), which increase the exposure in aggravated circumstances.
Why this matters in practice
Two questions dominate: whether the material really was kept secret for the safety of the country, and whether the accused acted with the purpose of obtaining it. Because the offence turns on purpose, even an unsuccessful attempt to obtain can fall within it. Exposure is up to ten years, rising sharply if the act was for a foreign state under Section 126 or in wartime under Section 128, and the offence is not compoundable. See criminal law in Thailand for an overview.
Frequently asked questions
Does the secret have to be actually obtained under Section 124?
No. The offence is defined by the purpose of obtaining the secret, so an act carried out with that aim can be complete even if the secret was never actually acquired.
How does Section 124 relate to Sections 125 to 127?
Section 124 covers obtaining a secret, Section 125 covers disclosing it, Section 126 raises the penalty when done for a foreign state, and Section 127 covers espionage.