Section 130 — Assault on a foreign head of state
English translation
Whoever commits an act of violence against the body or liberty of the head of a foreign state shall be liable to imprisonment of one to fifteen years. If the act causes grievous bodily harm, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment of five to twenty years. If the act causes the death of the head of the foreign state, the offender shall be liable to death or imprisonment for life.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 130 opens the chapter on offences against friendly relations with foreign states. The core element is an act of violence against the body or liberty of the head of a foreign state, and the status of the victim as a foreign head of state is what elevates the conduct into this chapter. The section is structured by result: a base range of one to fifteen years, an aggravated range of five to twenty years for grievous bodily harm, and death or life imprisonment where death results. It protects Thailand's diplomatic relations by attaching enhanced penalties to attacks on foreign heads of state.
Why this matters in practice
Because the penalty escalates by result, the degree of harm caused, none, grievous, or death, is central to exposure, which ranges from one year up to death or life imprisonment. The status of the victim as a foreign head of state is a defining element the prosecution must establish. The offence is not compoundable. Where a Thai head-of-state or defence angle is not present, this is the provision that governs attacks on foreign leaders; see criminal law in Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
Who is protected by Section 130?
The head of a foreign state. Their status as a foreign head of state is what brings an act of violence against their body or liberty within this section.
How does the penalty change with the harm caused?
The base penalty is one to fifteen years, rising to five to twenty years for grievous bodily harm, and to death or life imprisonment if the head of the foreign state dies.