Whoever assaults another person causing bodily or mental harm to such person commits the offence of assault and shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding two years, or fined not exceeding forty thousand Baht, or both.
Causing bodily or mental harm to another is assault, punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment or a 40,000 Baht fine, or both — the everyday charge after fights and altercations.
Self-defence (§§68–69) and consent in sport are key defences; injury 'for more than 20 days' or to vital functions escalates to grievous harm under §297. Assault is generally compoundable in practice when minor.
The defendant punched the victim once during an altercation. The victim fell backward, struck his head on the concrete ground, and died from the head injury. The Supreme Court convicted the defendant under Section 290 for causing death by an act intended to cause bodily harm. The Court held that although the defendant intended only to strike the victim (not to kill), the resulting death was a foreseeable consequence of punching someone in a location with a hard surface. Section 290 applies when death results from an act that was intended to cause bodily harm but not death. The defendant need not have foreseen the specific manner of death, only that the act was intended to cause some bodily harm.
The defendant punched the victim once during an altercation. The victim fell backward, struck his head on the concrete ground, and died from the head injury. The Supreme Court convicted the defendant under Section 290 for causing death by an act intended to cause bodily harm. The Court held that although the defendant intended only to strike the victim (not to kill), the resulting death was a foreseeable consequence of punching someone in a location with a hard surface. Section 290 applies when death results from an act that was intended to cause bodily harm but not death. The defendant need not have foreseen the specific manner of death, only that the act was intended to cause some bodily harm.
What is the difference between assault and grievous bodily harm?ทำร้ายร่างกายธรรมดากับอันตรายสาหัสต่างกันอย่างไร?
If the injury causes loss of a sense or organ, disfigurement, or illness/incapacity for more than 20 days, it becomes grievous harm under Section 297 (6 months–10 years).
Disclaimer: The English translation is unofficial and for informational purposes only. The authoritative text is in Thai as published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette (Ratchakitchanubeksa).ข้อสงวนสิทธิ์: คำแปลภาษาอังกฤษเป็นคำแปลอย่างไม่เป็นทางการ เพื่อวัตถุประสงค์ในการให้ข้อมูลเท่านั้น ข้อความที่เป็นทางการเป็นภาษาไทยตามที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุเบกษา
