Section 183 — Retraction before judgment
English translation
Whoever, having committed the offence under Section 177, Section 178, or Section 180, repents and reverts to stating the truth to the court or the official before judgment and before being prosecuted for the offence committed, the court may impose a penalty less than that prescribed by law for that offence to any extent.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 183 is a mitigation provision covering the perjury, false-interpretation, and false-evidence offences of Sections 177, 178, and 180. Unlike the absolute exemption in Section 182, it grants only a discretionary reduction, but over a wider window: the correction may come at any time before judgment and before the offender is prosecuted for the offence. The court may reduce the penalty below the statutory level to any extent, which can approach but does not guarantee no punishment. It complements Section 182 by rewarding an offender who missed the immediate-correction window but still puts the truth on record before the proceeding concludes and before facing prosecution. The benefit is lost once judgment is given or a prosecution for the offence has begun.
Why this matters in practice
If a witness, interpreter, or party has given false evidence and missed the immediate-correction window of Section 182, Section 183 is the fallback: telling the truth before judgment and before being prosecuted lets the court cut the penalty below the statutory level to any extent. The two conditions matter, the correction must come before judgment in the case and before the offender is charged for the offence, so acting sooner preserves more of the benefit. Because the reduction is discretionary and can shrink a serious sentence, especially where Section 181 would otherwise apply, timing and framing of the disclosure are worth advice; you can consult a Thai criminal lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Does Section 183 give full immunity?
No. It is a mitigation provision. The court may reduce the penalty below the statutory level to any extent, but it does not guarantee no punishment as Section 182 does.
When must the retraction happen?
Before judgment in the case and before the offender is prosecuted for the perjury, false interpretation, or false-evidence offence.
Which offences does Section 183 cover?
Perjury under Section 177, false interpretation under Section 178, and presenting false evidence under Section 180.