Section 319 — Concealing an abducted person
English translation
Whoever conceals a person who has been taken away under Section 312, Section 313, Section 314, Section 315, Section 316, Section 317, or Section 318 shall be punished in the same manner as the offender who committed the offence under the respective section.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 319 extends criminal liability from the person who carries out the taking away to a person who afterwards conceals the victim. It is a derivative provision: it does not set its own penalty but adopts the penalty of whichever taking-away section applies (Sections 312 to 318, covering ransom kidnapping, sexual-purpose abduction, indecency, taking a minor for profit, taking a child under fifteen, labour or trafficking, and transfer abroad). The element is concealing a person known to have been taken under one of those sections. This closes a gap by reaching those who shelter or hide the victim to sustain the underlying offence, even if they took no part in the original taking. Because the penalty tracks the underlying section, the concealer's exposure can be as severe as the primary offence, including life imprisonment or death where the primary section reaches those tiers.
Why this matters in practice
The practical sting of this section is that concealment carries the same penalty as the underlying abduction, so someone who merely hides or shelters a victim can face exposure identical to the kidnapper, up to life or death where Sections 312, 317, or 318 reach those tiers. The key contested issue is knowledge: whether the accused knew the person had been taken under one of the listed sections. It typically catches accomplices who join after the taking, or family members and associates who hide the victim. Because liability and penalty depend entirely on the underlying section, defence strategy must address both the concealment element and the classification of the original taking. Anyone accused should obtain online consultation with a Thai lawyer at once.
Frequently asked questions
What penalty applies to concealing an abducted person?
The same penalty as the underlying taking-away offence under Sections 312 to 318. So concealment can reach life imprisonment or death where the original section carries those penalties.
Does the concealer need to have taken part in the original abduction?
No. Section 319 reaches a person who conceals the victim afterwards. The key is knowledge that the person was taken under one of Sections 312 to 318.