Section 254 — Misuse of a genuine state seal
English translation
Whoever unlawfully uses the genuine Royal Seal, State Seal, or the genuine seal or seal-imprint of a government body, a State organization or agency, or of an official, shall be liable to imprisonment of six months to five years and a fine of ten thousand to one 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
Unlike the forgery offences around it, this section deals with a genuine, authentic seal that is used without authority. The elements are (1) using (2) a genuine Royal Seal, State Seal, or genuine seal or seal-imprint of a government body, agency, or official (3) unlawfully, that is, without any right or authority to apply it. It fills the gap left by Sections 250 to 253, which require a forged seal, by reaching the person who misuses the real thing, for example an official or insider who applies an authentic seal to a document it should not certify. The penalty is lower than for forgery, reflecting that the seal itself is genuine.
Why this matters in practice
The penalty runs from six months to five years, lower than the forgery counts, but this remains a non-compoundable State offence. The key question is authority: liability turns on whether the person had the right to apply the genuine seal to that document or purpose. It is often the charge that fits an insider or official who abused access to a real seal, and it may overlap with malfeasance offences. Documentary evidence of authorisation is central to the defence.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Section 254 and the seal-forgery sections?
Sections 250 to 253 punish forging or using a forged seal, while Section 254 punishes the unauthorised use of a genuine, authentic seal.
Who typically faces a Section 254 charge?
Often an official or insider who has access to a real seal and applies it without authority; liability turns on whether the person was entitled to use the seal for that purpose.