Section 335/2 — Theft of religious property
English translation
Section 335 bis. Whoever steals property that is a Buddha image or an object in religion, if such property is an object of worship of the public, or is kept as a national heritage, or is any part of a Buddha image or of such object, shall be punished with imprisonment from three years to ten years and a fine from sixty thousand baht to two hundred thousand baht.
If the offence under paragraph one is committed in a temple, a monastery, a place of religious veneration, an ancient monument that is state property, a government place, or a national museum, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment from five years to fifteen years and a fine from one hundred thousand baht to three hundred thousand baht.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 335 bis is an aggravated form of theft within Book II, Title XII (Offences Against Property), Chapter I (Theft and Snatching). It elevates ordinary theft under Section 334 where the stolen item is a Buddha image or religious object that is publicly venerated, held as national heritage, or a part of such an item, and it adds a second, heavier tier where the act is committed inside a sacred or protected location such as a temple, monastery, state ancient monument, government building, or national museum. The offence turns on proof that the item genuinely qualifies as a Buddha image or religious object, an element that must be established on the facts. It sits alongside the parallel aggravated provisions that apply the same protected-property concept to more serious modes of taking: robbery under Section 339 bis and gang-robbery under Sections 340 bis and 340 ter, each carrying markedly higher penalties.
Why this matters in practice
Exposure is significant: even the base tier starts at three years' imprisonment, and theft inside a temple or museum starts at five years, with mandatory fines in both tiers. Theft is a non-compoundable public offence, so the case is driven by the public prosecutor and cannot be settled privately to end criminal liability, though restitution can mitigate sentence. A frequent stacking issue is Section 336 bis, which raises the penalty by one half where a weapon or vehicle is used, so the practical sentence can run well above the headline range. Anyone facing a charge of this kind should consult a Thai lawyer early, as the classification of the item and the location both drive the penalty tier.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
-
Supreme Court Judgment No. 9193/2552 (2009)
Stealing a publicly venerated religious object committed inside a temple falls under Section 335 bis paragraph two, the higher penalty tier.
The defendant was convicted under Section 335 bis paragraph two together with Section 336 bis for stealing a religious object in a temple, showing how the location element triggers the heavier tier before penalty mitigation.
-
Supreme Court Judgment No. 4526/2559 (2016)
The aggravated liability attached to religious property applies only where the item is proven on the facts to be an object in religion; where that is not established, the enhanced penalty cannot be imposed.
The court held that where it could not be established that the deity images and their fittings were objects in religion, the defendant could not be punished under the aggravated tier, confirming that the religious-object element must be proven, not assumed.
-
Supreme Court Judgment No. 7126/2542 (1999)
Section 336 bis is a provision that increases the penalty for theft offences, including under Section 335 bis, by one half; it is not a sentence enhancement for recidivism under Sections 92 and 93.
In a theft involving a gold-framed Buddha amulet, the court corrected the lower court's method, holding that Section 336 bis raises the statutory penalty by half and is not applied as a recidivism enhancement.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
What is the penalty for stealing a Buddha image in Thailand?
Under Section 335 bis the base penalty is three to ten years' imprisonment plus a fine of 60,000 to 200,000 baht. If the theft is committed inside a temple, a sacred place, a state monument, a government building, or a national museum, it rises to five to fifteen years and a fine of 100,000 to 300,000 baht.
Does the higher penalty apply only inside a temple?
The higher tier applies where the act occurs in any of the listed protected places: a temple, a monastery, a place of religious veneration, an ancient monument that is state property, a government place, or a national museum. Theft of the same item elsewhere still falls under the base tier of the section.