Section 215 — Armed unlawful assembly causing disorder
English translation
Whoever gathers together, ten persons or more, and commits any act to cause disorder in the country, where any one of the offenders has a firearm or an explosive, shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding one hundred 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
Within the chapter on public peace, this provision addresses the more dangerous form of mob disorder in which firearms or explosives are present. Its elements are: (1) a gathering of ten or more persons, (2) an act causing disorder in the country, and (3) at least one offender in the group carrying a firearm or an explosive. The presence of such a weapon in the hands of any single participant elevates the offence and its penalty for the group, reflecting the heightened risk to public safety compared with an unarmed disturbance. Where the crowd goes on to cause harm to persons or property, further offences such as arson or attempted homicide are commonly charged alongside.
Why this matters in practice
The decisive fact is the presence of a firearm or explosive with any participant, which pulls the whole group into this heavier provision even if most were unarmed, so identifying who was actually armed and whether others knew is central to the defence. Exposure runs to five years, and incidents of this kind usually attract additional charges for any resulting violence or damage, sharply increasing total penalty. Given the seriousness, early advice before making statements is important.
Frequently asked questions
What makes Section 215 heavier than an ordinary unlawful assembly?
The presence of a firearm or explosive with at least one person in a gathering of ten or more causing disorder raises the offence and its penalty for the group.
Does everyone in the group face the heavier penalty?
The section applies to the gathering that causes disorder where any one offender is armed with a firearm or explosive, so the armed character of the incident bears on the whole group.
What is the penalty under Section 215?
Imprisonment of up to five years, or a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.