Section 284/1 — Sexual harassment
English translation
Whoever acts, by words, gestures, communication, pornographic material, or by any other means, in a manner constituting sexual harassment against another person, shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding twenty thousand baht, or both.
If the offence under paragraph one is a repeated act, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding forty thousand baht, or both.
If the offence under paragraph one is committed by dissemination to the public or by means of a computer system, the offender 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
Section 284/1 defines the offence of sexual harassment within the Title on Offences Relating to Sexuality. Its elements are conduct of a sexual nature, carried out by words, gestures, communication, pornographic material, or any other means, that amounts to harassment of another person. The provision is structured in three tiers: a base offence, an aggravated tier for a repeated act, and a further aggravated tier for public dissemination or use of a computer system, each raising the ceiling of imprisonment and fine. It is narrower and lower in penalty than the physical indecent-act offence of Section 278 and is reinforced by Sections 284/2 to 284/4, which add a child-victim aggravation, a restraining-order power, and a data-removal power.
Why this matters in practice
Exposure is modest at the base level, up to one year or a twenty thousand baht fine, but it escalates quickly for repeat conduct and, most significantly, for anything done online or spread to the public, which reaches three years. The central factual battleground is whether the conduct actually rose to harassment of a sexual nature rather than an isolated or ambiguous remark. Because the online and repeat tiers change the exposure sharply, anyone accused should clarify which tier is charged; see the firm's overview of criminal law in Thailand for context.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as sexual harassment under Section 284/1?
Conduct of a sexual nature carried out by words, gestures, communication, pornographic material, or any other means that harasses another person falls within the section.
Is online sexual harassment punished more heavily?
Yes. Where the conduct is disseminated to the public or committed through a computer system, the penalty rises to imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding sixty thousand baht, or both.