Section 142 — Interfering with seized property
English translation
Whoever damages, destroys, conceals, takes away, or causes the loss of, or renders useless, any property or document that an official has seized, kept, or ordered to be delivered as evidence, or to enforce the law, whether the official keeps such property or document himself or has ordered that person or another to deliver or keep it, shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding three years, or a fine not exceeding sixty 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 142 protects property or documents that are under official control as evidence or for law enforcement, complementing Section 141, which protects the seal or mark rather than the thing itself. Its elements are: property or a document that an official has seized, kept, or ordered to be delivered, for the purpose of evidence or enforcement of the law, and conduct by the offender that damages, destroys, conceals, takes away, causes the loss of, or renders it useless. The offence applies regardless of who physically holds the item, whether the official keeps it, the offender was ordered to keep it, or a third party holds it. Its three-year ceiling is higher than Section 141 because the target is the substantive evidentiary or enforcement value of the item, not merely the marking.
Why this matters in practice
This charge commonly arises where a person disposes of, hides, or damages an item, such as a document or vehicle, that police or another authority have seized and kept as evidence, and it has been applied precisely to destroying or rendering useless documents held by an investigating officer as evidence. Exposure is up to three years. Importantly, it does not matter that the item was left in the accused's own possession for safekeeping; interfering with it is still an offence. In practice it is often charged alongside the substantive offence being investigated, so tampering with evidence can compound an existing case. Anyone told that property has been placed under official custody should treat it as untouchable. See criminal law in Thailand.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 7139/2553 (2010)
Damaging, destroying, or rendering useless a document that an investigating officer has seized and kept as evidence is an offence under Section 142.
The defendant was charged under Sections 142 and 288 together with firearms offences. He pleaded guilty to, among other things, damaging, destroying, or rendering useless a document that the investigating officer had seized and kept as evidence, confirming that such conduct falls within Section 142.
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 under Section 142?
Imprisonment not exceeding three years, or a fine not exceeding 60,000 baht, or both.
Does it matter who is holding the seized item?
No. The offence applies whether the official keeps the item, the accused was ordered to keep it, or a third party holds it.
Does destroying a document seized by police count?
Yes. Rendering useless or destroying a document that an investigating officer has seized and kept as evidence falls within Section 142.