Section 244 — Passing on known counterfeit currency
English translation
Whoever obtains counterfeit or altered currency without knowing that it is counterfeit or altered, but later, on learning that it is counterfeit or altered, still passes it on, shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding ten years, or a fine not exceeding two 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
This section addresses the person who acquires fake currency in good faith but, once they realise it is counterfeit or altered, passes it on anyway. Because they did not create or knowingly acquire the fake money, the penalty is much lighter than for counterfeiting under Section 240 or knowing possession for circulation under Section 243. The key fact is knowledge at the moment of passing rather than at receipt. The Supreme Court has stressed that whether the holder already knew the notes were counterfeit when they received them is decisive in separating this offence from the more serious ones, and this section is often applied to foreign currency together with Section 247.
Why this matters in practice
This is the most lenient of the passing offences because the accused started out innocent, so the case usually turns on when they learned the money was fake. A person who honestly did not realise the notes were counterfeit when they spent them commits no offence at all. Exposure is up to ten years, or a fine up to 200,000 baht, or both. Evidence about how the notes were obtained and what the accused knew is central. See our overview of criminal law in Thailand.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2384/2566 (2023)
Whether the holder already knew the banknotes were counterfeit at the moment of receiving them is a material fact in a currency-passing case, and knowing possession supports conviction under Section 244.
The case concerned whether the defendant already knew the seized banknotes were counterfeit when he received them. The Court treated that knowledge as a material fact going to the heart of the charge, and the defendants were convicted under Section 244 in combination with Section 247 for foreign currency.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Sections 243 and 244?
Section 243 punishes knowingly possessing fake currency to circulate it. Section 244 applies to someone who received it innocently and only passed it on after learning it was fake, and it carries a lighter penalty.
Is it a crime to spend counterfeit money I did not know was fake?
Not if you genuinely did not know. Section 244 applies only where you learned the money was counterfeit and still passed it on.