Section 182 — Retraction before testimony ends
English translation
Whoever, having committed the offence under Section 177 or Section 178, repents and reverts to stating the truth to the court or the official before the conclusion of the testimony or the interpretation, shall not be punished.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 182 is an absolute exemption from punishment tied to the perjury and false-interpretation offences of Sections 177 and 178. If the witness or interpreter recants and states the truth before the testimony or interpretation is concluded, no penalty is imposed at all. The timing window is narrow and strict: the correction must come before the end of the very testimony or interpretation in which the falsehood was told. It reflects a policy of encouraging witnesses and interpreters to correct the record while the proceeding can still rely on the truth. Section 183 provides a related but lesser benefit, a reduction rather than full exemption, and applies to a broader window and to Section 180 as well.
Why this matters in practice
For a witness or interpreter who has just given a false statement, Section 182 is the strongest possible relief: telling the truth before the testimony or interpretation ends means no punishment at all. The catch is the timing, the correction must come before that testimony or interpretation is concluded, so hesitation can forfeit the exemption and drop the person into the reduction-only regime of Section 183. Because the difference between full exemption and mere mitigation turns on acting within a narrow window, anyone in this position should correct the record immediately and, if possible, take advice; you can consult a Thai criminal lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Does Section 182 remove all punishment?
Yes. If a witness or interpreter tells the truth before the testimony or interpretation ends, they shall not be punished for the offence under Section 177 or Section 178.
How is Section 182 different from Section 183?
Section 182 gives full exemption if you correct before the testimony or interpretation ends. Section 183 gives only a penalty reduction and applies over a broader window and to Section 180 too.