Section 324 — Disclosing a secret obtained from correspondence
English translation
Whoever discloses the essential substance of a letter, telegram or document of another person which is a secret, having come to know it by any of the means provided in Section 322, where such disclosure is likely to cause injury to any person, shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding ten 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 324 completes the correspondence-secrecy scheme by punishing the onward disclosure of what was unlawfully learned. The elements are: essential secret content of a letter, telegram or document belonging to another; the accused came to know it by one of the means described in Section 322; disclosure of that substance; and that the disclosure is likely to cause injury to a person. It builds directly on Section 322: Section 322 punishes the act of opening in order to learn the contents, and Section 324 punishes revealing the essential substance so obtained. Where the source of knowledge is a professional or official role rather than tampering with correspondence, Section 323 governs instead. By Section 325 the offence is compoundable.
Why this matters in practice
A person who breaks open a sealed letter and then broadcasts its contents can face both Section 322 and Section 324. The prosecution must link the disclosure to a Section 322 means of obtaining the information, so a defence often focuses on how the accused actually came to know the material. Because the disclosure must be likely to cause injury, harmless repetition is not caught. The offence is compoundable under Section 325 and is regularly settled, but a complaint can support a parallel civil claim for the damage caused.
Frequently asked questions
How is Section 324 different from Section 322?
Section 322 punishes opening a sealed letter to learn its contents. Section 324 punishes going a step further and disclosing the essential secret content that was obtained by such means, where the disclosure is likely to cause harm.
Is a Section 324 case compoundable?
Yes. By Section 325 all offences in this chapter, including Section 324, are compoundable, so the case can be settled or the complaint withdrawn.