Section 219 — Arson endangering life
English translation
If the arson under Section 217 causes danger to the life of another person, the offender shall be liable to the same penalty as an offender who commits an offence under Section 218.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 219 sits in the Chapter on Offences Causing Public Dangers as a penalty-enhancement rule rather than a stand-alone offence. It applies where the base conduct is arson of another's property under Section 217 and that fire endangers the life of any person, at which point the offender is sentenced on the same scale as aggravated arson under Section 218. The prosecution must establish both the completed Section 217 arson and a genuine resulting risk to human life. It functions as the bridge between simple arson (Section 217) and the heaviest arson penalties (Section 218).
Why this matters in practice
Because Section 219 borrows the Section 218 penalty, exposure is severe: aggravated arson can reach imprisonment for life or the death penalty. This is a public-danger offence, so the state prosecutes even without a complaint from the property owner and a private settlement will not extinguish it. Defence work usually turns on whether a completed Section 217 arson is proven, whether a real risk to life actually arose, and intent versus accident, so anyone facing such a charge should get criminal defence advice early.
Frequently asked questions
Is Section 219 a separate crime on its own?
No. It is a penalty rule. It applies when arson under Section 217 endangers a person's life and then punishes the offender on the Section 218 scale.
How severe is the penalty under Section 219?
It matches Section 218, the aggravated arson provision, which can reach imprisonment for life or the death penalty.