Section 179 — Fabricating criminal evidence
English translation
Whoever creates false evidence in order to cause an inquiry official or an official having the power to investigate criminal cases to believe that a criminal offence has occurred, or to believe that a criminal offence which has occurred is more serious than is true, shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding forty 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 179 targets the manufacture of false evidence at the investigation stage, before any court proceeding. Its elements are creating false evidence and doing so with the specific purpose of making an inquiry official or criminal investigator believe either that an offence occurred or that a real offence is graver than it is. It is distinct from giving a false statement or false report to officials and from presenting false evidence in court under Section 180: Section 179 concerns fabricating the evidence itself to mislead the investigation. The relatively modest penalty reflects that it addresses conduct upstream of trial, but fabricated evidence often accompanies other offences such as false reporting and forgery.
Why this matters in practice
This section is a risk for anyone tempted to plant or manufacture evidence to trigger or inflate a criminal investigation, and it commonly appears bundled with false reporting and forgery charges that carry heavier penalties. The key element is the fabricator's purpose: the evidence must be created to make the investigator believe a crime occurred, or was more serious than reality. If you are the target of an investigation you believe was built on fabricated evidence, that fabrication can itself be an offence, and the surrounding conduct may expose the fabricator to additional charges. Get early advice on how criminal complaints and investigations work in Thailand; you can read about fraud and scam laws in Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
How is Section 179 different from a false report?
A false report is a false statement to an official; Section 179 concerns actually fabricating evidence to make an investigator believe a crime occurred or is more serious than the truth.
What is the penalty under Section 179?
Imprisonment up to 2 years, a fine up to 40,000 Baht, or both. Related conduct is often charged alongside false reporting or forgery, which carry heavier penalties.