Section 287/1: Child obscene material offence
Statutory text (Thai original)
ผู้ใดครอบครองสื่อลามกอนาจารเด็กเพื่อแสวงหาประโยชน์ในทางเพศสำหรับตนเองหรือผู้อื่น ต้องระวางโทษจำคุกไม่เกินห้าปี หรือปรับไม่เกินหนึ่งแสนบาท หรือทั้งจำทั้งปรับ ถ้าผู้กระทำความผิดตามวรรคหนึ่งส่งต่อซึ่งสื่อลามกอนาจารเด็กแก่ผู้อื่น ต้องระวางโทษจำคุกไม่เกินเจ็ดปี หรือปรับไม่เกินหนึ่งแสนสี่หมื่นบาท หรือทั้งจำทั้งปรับ
English translation
Whoever possesses child pornography in order to obtain a sexual benefit for himself or for another person shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand baht, or both.
Where the offender under paragraph one forwards that child pornography to another person, he shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding seven years, or a fine not exceeding one hundred and forty thousand baht, or both.
ThaiLawOnline translation, written from the Thai original and verified
Firm annotation
Section 287/1 is the possession offence for child pornography, and it is deliberately narrower than the trading offence beside it. Paragraph one requires two elements: possession of child pornography, and the purpose of obtaining a sexual benefit for the offender or for another person. Possession without that purpose does not fall within the paragraph. Paragraph two is an aggravated form of the same conduct: where the possessor forwards the material to another person, the maximum rises from five to seven years and the fine from 100,000 to 140,000 baht. Both paragraphs state maxima only, with no minimum term, and in each the fine is available as an alternative to imprisonment or in addition to it. Production, trade, dissemination, import, export and public exhibition are not dealt with here but by Section 287/2, which is far heavier and carries a minimum: three to ten years and a fine of 60,000 to 200,000 baht.
Why this matters in practice
Two questions decide the charge. The first is purpose: paragraph one is made out only where the material was possessed in order to obtain a sexual benefit, so it is the purpose and not the possession alone that has to be proved. The second is which provision applies at all, because the difference is large: possession sits here at up to five years, forwarding at up to seven, and conduct amounting to production, trade, dissemination, import or public exhibition falls under Section 287/2, which starts at three years and carries a mandatory fine. Where material was received but never passed on, paragraph two does not apply. Devices are usually the whole of the evidence, so consider an online consultation with a Thai lawyer before responding to any request to hand one over.
Frequently asked questions
What is the penalty under Section 287/1?
Possessing child pornography in order to obtain a sexual benefit carries imprisonment not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding 100,000 baht, or both. Forwarding it to another person carries imprisonment not exceeding seven years, or a fine not exceeding 140,000 baht, or both.
Is possession alone an offence?
Paragraph one applies where the material is possessed in order to obtain a sexual benefit for the offender or for another person. That purpose is an element of the offence and has to be proved.
How does Section 287/1 differ from Section 287/2?
Section 287/1 covers possession and forwarding. Section 287/2 covers production, trade, dissemination, import, export and public exhibition, and carries three to ten years and a fine of 60,000 to 200,000 baht.
Related guides on ThaiLawOnline
Cite this section
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Plain citation
Penal Code, s. 287/1 (Thailand) -
Academic citation
Penal Code (Thailand), s. 287/1. ThaiLawOnline, https://www.thailawonline.com/thai-penal-code/section-287-1/ (accessed 21 August 2026). -
Thai citation
ป.อ. มาตรา 287/1 -
Permalink
https://www.thailawonline.com/thai-penal-code/section-287-1/ -
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<blockquote cite="https://www.thailawonline.com/thai-penal-code/section-287-1/"><p>Whoever possesses child pornography in order to obtain a sexual benefit for himself or for another person shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand baht, or both. Where the offender under paragraph one forwards that…</p><footer>Penal Code, s. 287/1 (Thailand) — <a href="https://www.thailawonline.com/thai-penal-code/section-287-1/">ThaiLawOnline</a></footer></blockquote>
The Thai text is authoritative. The English is an unofficial translation by ThaiLawOnline, free to reuse with attribution.