Section 247 — Counterfeiting foreign currency
English translation
Whoever counterfeits or alters the currency of a foreign government shall be liable to imprisonment from one year to fifteen years and a fine from twenty thousand baht to three hundred thousand baht.
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 applies the currency offences to foreign money: counterfeiting or altering the currency of a foreign government. The penalty of one to fifteen years is lower than for domestic counterfeiting under Section 240 but the same range as altering domestic currency under Section 241. It works with Section 248, which covers importing or possessing counterfeit or altered foreign currency for circulation. In practice Section 247 is frequently combined with Sections 240, 244, or 248 in charging, and the Supreme Court has applied a single-punishment rule so that a person who counterfeits foreign currency and also commits related offences in the same chapter as to the same money is punished on a single count for that conduct.
Why this matters in practice
Exposure is one to fifteen years plus a fine of 20,000 to 300,000 baht. Foreign counterfeit banknote cases are commonly charged under this section together with the possession or passing offences, and the courts examine whether the same money underlies several charges, since a single-count rule can apply. As with domestic currency, whether the item is capable of passing as genuine foreign money is a key issue. Specialist advice is important where multiple counts are alleged.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 3986/2564 (2021)
A person who counterfeits currency issued by a foreign government commits an offence under Section 247, and keeping a large quantity of the counterfeit notes at home ready to use also constitutes possessing them for circulation.
The defendant kept a large number of counterfeit banknotes at home, ready to use himself or pass to others, and displayed them to an undercover officer. The Court held this constituted possession of counterfeit currency for circulation, and the defendant was treated as having counterfeited foreign government currency under Section 247 in combination with Sections 240 and 244.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2384/2566 (2023)
Passing counterfeit foreign banknotes with knowledge of their falsity is punished under Section 244 in combination with Section 247, and the defendant's knowledge at the time of receiving the notes is a material fact.
The defendants were charged over counterfeit banknotes of a foreign government. The Court treated whether they knew the notes were counterfeit when received as material and convicted under Section 244 in combination with Section 247.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
Does Thai law punish counterfeiting foreign money?
Yes. Section 247 punishes counterfeiting or altering the currency of a foreign government with one to fifteen years in prison and a fine of 20,000 to 300,000 baht.
How does Section 247 relate to Section 248?
Section 247 covers making or altering foreign currency, while Section 248 covers importing or possessing counterfeit or altered foreign currency in order to circulate it.