Section 7 — Extraterritorial offences
English translation
Whoever commits any of the following offences outside the Kingdom shall be punished within the Kingdom, namely:
(1) offences against the security of the Kingdom as provided in Section 107 to Section 129;
(1/1) offences relating to terrorism as provided in Section 135/1, Section 135/2, Section 135/3, and Section 135/4;
(2) offences relating to counterfeiting and alteration as provided in Section 240 to Section 249, Section 254, and Section 256;
(2/1) offences relating to electronic cards as provided in Section 269/1 to Section 269/7;
(3) sexual offences as provided in Section 282 and Section 283;
(4) the offence of robbery under Section 339 and the offence of gang-robbery under Section 340 committed on the high seas.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 7 is the first of the true extraterritorial-jurisdiction provisions, applying to a fixed list of offences regarded as harming Thailand's core interests or the international order. Unlike Section 8, it does not require a request by a foreign government or an injured person, reflecting the protective and universal principles of jurisdiction. The catalogue was expanded over time to add terrorism offences (1/1) and electronic-card offences (2/1), which is visible from the decimal numbering in the text. The provision must be read together with Section 11, which addresses the effect of a foreign judgment on an offence falling under Section 7, and it stands apart from Sections 4 to 6, which concern offences connected to Thai territory.
Why this matters in practice
The practical point of Section 7 is that for this closed list of offences, jurisdiction attaches to conduct done wholly abroad, with no requirement that a government or victim ask for prosecution. For most people the relevant categories are counterfeiting and alteration, electronic-card offences, and the listed sexual offences, which can expose a person to Thai prosecution for conduct outside Thailand. If a person has already faced a foreign court for the same act, Section 11 governs whether and how Thailand may still prosecute. Anyone facing a Section 7 charge should confirm that the offence genuinely falls within the enumerated provisions, because the list is exhaustive and does not extend to offences under special statutes.
Frequently asked questions
Which offences can be punished in Thailand even if committed abroad?
Section 7 lists them: offences against the security of the Kingdom, terrorism, counterfeiting and alteration, electronic-card offences, certain sexual offences, and robbery or gang-robbery on the high seas.
Does Section 7 require a request from a foreign government or victim?
No. Unlike Section 8, Section 7 applies to its listed offences without any request from a foreign government or an injured person.