Section 178 — False interpretation for officials
English translation
Whoever, having been directed by a judicial official, a public prosecutor, a prosecuting officer, or an inquiry official to interpret any statement or meaning, interprets that statement or meaning wrongly in a material point, 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 178 is the interpreter's counterpart to perjury under Section 177. Its elements are that the person was directed to interpret by one of the listed officials, a judge, public prosecutor, prosecuting officer, or inquiry official, and that the interpretation was wrong on a material point, done knowingly. The materiality requirement mirrors that of perjury: only a distortion that matters to the statement or meaning is caught. The provision protects the integrity of proceedings that depend on faithful interpretation, especially relevant where parties or witnesses do not speak Thai. Sections 182 and 183 allow relief where the interpreter retracts and states the truth before the interpretation is concluded or before judgment.
Why this matters in practice
This section matters most to court and police interpreters, and by extension to foreign parties who rely on them, because a distorted interpretation on a material point is itself a crime carrying up to 3 years. The controlling limits are the same two as perjury: the error must be on a material point, and it must be a knowing distortion rather than an honest mistake or a debatable rendering. An interpreter who realizes an error can retract and give the correct meaning in time under Sections 182 and 183 to avoid or reduce punishment. Foreign litigants who suspect their interpretation was mishandled should raise it promptly and take advice; you can consult a Thai lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Who can commit the offence under Section 178?
An interpreter or translator directed to interpret by a judge, public prosecutor, prosecuting officer, or inquiry official, who then interprets wrongly on a material point.
Does an honest mistranslation count?
The offence requires a knowing distortion on a material point. An honest error or a reasonable difference in rendering is not the same as deliberately interpreting wrongly.