Section 257 — Misuse of used government stamps
English translation
Whoever unlawfully uses a genuine government stamp that has already been used, or causes it to appear that a genuine government stamp that has already been used has not yet been used, shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding three years, or a fine not exceeding sixty 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 provision addresses genuine but spent government stamps, a lesser wrong than forging a stamp. There are two forms of the offence: (1) unlawfully reusing a genuine government stamp that has already been used, and (2) making a used genuine stamp appear unused, for example by removing cancellation marks so it can be presented again. Because the stamp is authentic, the penalty is markedly lower than the one to seven years for forgery under Sections 255 and 256, and it allows a fine alone or imprisonment of up to three years. The conduct typically aims to avoid paying the fee that a fresh stamp would carry.
Why this matters in practice
Exposure is capped at three years and a court may impose a fine alone, so this is treated as a lighter offence than stamp forgery. It nonetheless remains a public offence that a private party cannot settle. The prosecution must show the stamp was genuine and already used, and either that the accused reused it or made it look unused. Defences often focus on whether the stamp had in fact been used and on the absence of any intent to pass it off as fresh.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a crime to reuse a used government stamp in Thailand?
Yes. Section 257 punishes unlawfully reusing a genuine used government stamp, or making a used stamp appear unused, with up to three years in prison or a fine up to 60,000 baht, or both.
Why is Section 257 lighter than the stamp-forgery sections?
Because the stamp is genuine rather than counterfeit; the wrong is reusing or disguising a real spent stamp, not producing a fake one.