Section 137 — False statement to an official
English translation
Whoever gives false information to an official in a manner that may cause damage to another person or to the public shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding ten thousand baht, or both.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 137 is the general offence of giving false information to an official within the Title on Offences against Officials. Its elements are: a statement of information that is false, made to an official, and made in a manner that may cause damage to another person or to the public. Actual damage need not occur; the mere possibility of damage suffices. It is the base provision from which more specific false-information offences branch, and it is routinely charged together with Section 267 (causing an official to make a false entry in a document) where the false statement induces a false official record. There is no offence where the underlying statement is in fact true, and, as case law shows, where a signature or fact relied on is genuine.
Why this matters in practice
Exposure is modest, up to six months, but this charge is a common weapon in property and family disputes because filing a false police report or a false statement to a land or registry official can trigger it, often paired with Section 267 for a heavier combined exposure. The prosecution must prove the statement was actually false and capable of causing damage, so a truthful report, or one where the disputed act (such as a signature) was in fact genuine, is not an offence, as the Supreme Court has held. Anyone considering filing a complaint should be sure of their facts, since a false accusation can rebound as a Section 137 charge. For related fraud scenarios, see fraud and scam laws in Thailand.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 765/2567 (2024)
Where the person actually signed a power of attorney, there is no offence of jointly giving false information to an official under Section 137, even if the signing did not occur in front of the person accused of arranging it.
The plaintiff had in fact signed the power of attorney, though not in the presence of the third defendant. The court held that because the signature was genuine, the third defendant's conduct did not amount to jointly giving false information to an official under Section 137 read with Section 83.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2630/2567 (2024)
A false statement to an official combined with causing a false entry in a document can be convicted under Sections 137 and 267 together, drawing a short suspended custodial term.
The Supreme Court's earlier judgment referred to in this case had found the first defendant guilty under Sections 137 and 267 and imposed six months' imprisonment and a 3,000 baht fine with the prison term suspended for two years, illustrating how a false statement to an official is often charged with the false-entry offence in Section 267.
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 is the penalty for a false statement to an official under Section 137?
Imprisonment not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding 10,000 baht, or both.
Does actual damage have to result?
No. It is enough that the false statement may cause damage to another person or to the public; actual damage need not occur.
Is it an offence if the statement is actually true?
No. There is no Section 137 offence where the statement is true or where the disputed fact, such as a signature, was in fact genuine.