Section 221 — Aggravated explosion damaging protected property
English translation
If the commission of an offence under Section 220 causes danger to property of the kind specified in Section 218, the offender shall be liable to the penalty provided in 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 221 is a penalty-enhancement provision, not a fresh offence. It applies where the base conduct is the explosion offence under Section 220 and that explosion endangers the protected classes of property enumerated in Section 218 (such as buildings and installations attracting the heaviest arson-type penalties). When the condition is met, sentencing moves from the Section 220 range up to the much heavier Section 218 scale. The prosecution must prove both the completed Section 220 explosion and that Section 218 property was placed in danger.
Why this matters in practice
Because the penalty jumps to the Section 218 band, exposure can reach imprisonment for life or the death penalty, a very different risk profile from a plain Section 220 charge. This remains a non-compoundable public-danger offence that the state pursues without a private complainant, and settlement will not end it. The most important contested issues are whether the damaged or endangered property truly falls within the Section 218 categories and whether the Section 220 explosion is proven, so anyone charged should obtain criminal defence advice quickly.
Frequently asked questions
How is Section 221 different from Section 220?
Section 220 sets the base explosion offence. Section 221 raises the penalty to the Section 218 scale when the explosion endangers the special categories of property listed there.
What penalty does Section 221 carry?
The Section 218 penalty, which for aggravated cases can reach imprisonment for life or the death penalty.