Section 292: Driving a person to suicide by cruelty
Statutory text (Thai original)
ผู้ใดกระทำด้วยการปฏิบัติอันทารุณ หรือด้วยปัจจัยคล้ายคลึงกันแก่บุคคลซึ่งต้องพึ่งตน ในการดำรงชีพหรือในการอื่นใด เพื่อให้บุคคลนั้นฆ่าตนเอง ถ้าการฆ่าตนเองนั้นได้เกิดขึ้นหรือได้มีการพยายามฆ่าตนเอง ต้องระวางโทษจำคุกไม่เกินเจ็ดปี และปรับไม่เกินหนึ่งแสนสี่หมื่นบาท หมายเหตุ: [อัตราโทษ แก้ไขเพิ่มเติมโดยมาตรา ๔ แห่งพระราชบัญญัติแก้ไขเพิ่มเติมประมวลกฎหมายอาญา (ฉบับที่ ๒๖) พ.ศ. ๒๕๖๐]
English translation
Whoever, by cruel treatment or by similar means, treats a person who is dependent on him for a livelihood or for any other reason, in order to cause that person to kill himself, shall, where the suicide occurs or is attempted, be liable to imprisonment not exceeding seven years and a fine not exceeding one hundred and forty thousand baht.
ThaiLawOnline translation, written from the Thai original and verified
Firm annotation
The elements are: (1) an act by any means that subjects the victim to grave mental cruelty, (2) which causes the victim to commit or attempt suicide, and (3) an actual suicide or attempt as a result. The provision sits in the Title on Offences against Life as a distinct wrong: the offender does not directly kill but produces the victim's self-destruction through cruelty. Grave mental cruelty is the qualifying condition, so ordinary harshness or conflict is not enough. The occurrence of the suicide or the attempt is a condition of liability, not merely the harm.
Why this matters in practice
Exposure is up to seven years imprisonment, so this is a serious charge that turns on proving both the grave mental cruelty and a causal link to the suicide or attempt. In practice the hard issues are causation and whether the cruelty reached the required severity, both of which are fact-heavy and benefit from early legal advice. Anyone facing such an allegation, or a family considering a complaint, should consult a Thai lawyer before proceeding.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a crime to drive someone to suicide in Thailand?
Yes. Under Section 292, subjecting a person to grave mental cruelty that causes them to commit or attempt suicide is an offence punishable by up to seven years imprisonment, provided the suicide or attempt actually occurs.
Does the victim have to actually die for Section 292 to apply?
No. The section applies where the suicide occurs or where the victim attempts suicide, so an attempt that fails is still within the offence.
Related guides on ThaiLawOnline
Cite this section
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Plain citation
Penal Code, s. 292 (Thailand) -
Academic citation
Penal Code (Thailand), s. 292. ThaiLawOnline, https://www.thailawonline.com/thai-penal-code/section-292/ (accessed 21 August 2026). -
Thai citation
ป.อ. มาตรา 292 -
Permalink
https://www.thailawonline.com/thai-penal-code/section-292/ -
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<blockquote cite="https://www.thailawonline.com/thai-penal-code/section-292/"><p>Whoever, by cruel treatment or by similar means, treats a person who is dependent on him for a livelihood or for any other reason, in order to cause that person to kill himself, shall, where the suicide occurs or is attempted, be liable to imprisonment…</p><footer>Penal Code, s. 292 (Thailand) — <a href="https://www.thailawonline.com/thai-penal-code/section-292/">ThaiLawOnline</a></footer></blockquote>
The Thai text is authoritative. The English is an unofficial translation by ThaiLawOnline, free to reuse with attribution.