Section 343 — Fraud on an insurer
English translation
If the cheating and fraud consists of ordering or obtaining non-life insurance or life insurance by using deceitful tricks to induce the insurer to accept the insurance, or to accept the insurance for an amount higher than it should be, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding one hundred 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 343 is a specialized fraud offence within the cheating and fraud chapter, directed at deception aimed at an insurer at the point of taking out insurance. Its elements build on the base fraud concept of deceit but focus on the specific result of inducing an insurer to accept non-life or life insurance, or to insure for an inflated amount. It targets the application or underwriting stage, and it complements Section 347, which addresses damaging or destroying insured property to obtain an insurance benefit at the claim stage. The heavier penalty, up to five years, reflects the risk that fraudulent insurance arrangements pose to the insurance system.
Why this matters in practice
Exposure runs up to five years or a fine, or both. This offence turns on proving the deceitful trick used against the insurer and the causal link to the insurer accepting the risk or over-insuring, so the underwriting file, the application representations, and the insured value are central evidence. Because the provision protects the insurer as the deceived party, the analysis focuses on what was misrepresented or concealed when the policy was taken out, distinct from later claim-stage conduct on the insured property. Anyone facing such a charge should preserve the full policy documentation. See our guide to fraud and scam laws in Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
What conduct does Section 343 punish?
It punishes using deceitful tricks to induce an insurer to accept non-life or life insurance, or to insure for an amount higher than it should be.
What is the penalty under Section 343?
Imprisonment not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand baht, or both.
How does Section 343 differ from Section 347?
Section 343 targets deceiving an insurer when insurance is taken out, while Section 347 targets damaging or destroying insured property to obtain an insurance benefit.