Offenses in the Thai Penal Code
(Version 2022)
Human Trafficking
Section 282
Section 282 Whoever, for the sexual gratification of any other person, procures, seduces or takes away a man or woman for an indecent act, even with his or her consent, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 1 to 10 years and to a fine of 20,000 Thai baht to 200,000 Thai baht.
If the offence under Paragraph 1 is committed against a person over 15 years of age but not over 18 years of age, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 3 years to 15 years and to a fine of 60,000 Thai baht to 300,000 Thai baht.
If the offence under paragraph one is committed against a child not over 15 years of age, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 5 years to 20 years and to a fine of 100,000 Thai baht to 400,000 Thai baht.
Whoever, for sexual gratification of any other person, receives the person who has been procured, seduced or taken away in Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2 or Paragraph 3, or supports the commission of such offence, shall be liable to the punishment as provided in Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2 or Paragraph 3, whatever the case may be.
Section 283
Section 283 Whoever, for the sexual gratification of any other person, procures, seduces or takes away a man or woman for an indecent act by trickery or swindling, threatening, violence, exercising undue influence or compulsion by any other means shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of five to twenty years and to a fine of 100,000 Thai baht to 400,000 Thai baht.
If the offence under Paragraph 1 is committed against a person over 15 years of age but not over 18 years of age, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 7 years to 20 years and to a fine of 140,000 Thai baht to 400,000 Thai baht, or to imprisonment for life.
If the offence under Paragraph 1 is committed against a child not over 15 years of age, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 10 years to 20 years and to a fine of 200,000 Thai baht to 400,000 Thai baht, or to imprisonment for life or a death penalty.
Whoever, for sexual gratification of any other person, receives the person who has been procured, seduced or taken away under Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2 or Paragraph 3, or supports the commission of such offence, shall be liable to the punishment as provided in Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2 or Paragraph 3, whatever the case may be.
Section 283 Bis
Section 283 bis: Whoever takes away a person over 15 years of age but not over 18 years of age for an indecent act, even with the child’s consent, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine not exceeding 100,000 Thai baht or to both.
If the offence under Paragraph 1 is committed against a child not over 15 years of age, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or to a fine not exceeding 140,000 Thai baht or to both.
Whoever conceals the person taken away under Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2 shall be liable to the punishment as provided in Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2, whatever the case may be.
The offences under Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 3, only in cases against a person over 15 years of age shall be compoundable.
The offense according to the first paragraph and Paragraph three only in cases where the offense is committed against a person over fifteen years of age is a compoundable offense.
Section 284
Section 284 Whoever takes away another person for an indecent act by trickery or swindling, threatening, violence, exercising undue influence or compulsion by any other means shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of one to ten years and to a fine of 20,000 Thai baht to 200,000 Thai baht.
Whoever conceals the person taken away under Paragraph 1 shall be liable to the same punishment prescribed for an offender taking away such person.
The offence under this section shall be compoundable
Section 317
Section 317 Whoever, without valid reason, takes away a child not over 15 years of age from his or her parent, guardian or caretaker shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 3 years to 15 years and to a fine of 60,000 Thai baht to 300,000 Thai baht.
Whoever dishonestly purchases, distributes or receives the child who has been taken away under Paragraph 1 shall be liable to the same punishment as the person taking away the child.
If the offence under this section is committed for profit or indecent purposes, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 5 years to 20 years and to a fine of 100,000 Thai baht to 400,000 Thai baht.
Section 318
Section 318 Whoever takes away a minor over 15 years of age but not over 18 years of age from his or her parent, guardian or caretaker without the minor’s consent shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 2 years to 10 years and to a fine of 40,000 Thai baht to 200,000 Thai baht.
Whoever dishonestly purchases, distributes or receives the minor who has been taken away under Paragraph 1 shall be liable to the same punishment as the person taking away the minor.
If the offence under this section is committed for profit or indecent purposes, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 3 years to 15 years and to a fine of 60,000 Thai baht to 300,000 Thai baht.
Section 319
Section 319 Whoever takes away a minor over 15 years of age but not over 18 years of age from his or her parent, guardian or caretaker for profit or indecent purposes, with the minor’s consent, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 2 years to 10 years and to a fine of 40,000 Thai baht to 200,000 Thai baht.
Offenses specified in the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act of B.E. 2551 (2008)
Section 6
Section 6 Whoever commits any of the following acts:
(1) facilitating to procure, buy, sell distribute, bring from or send to any location, harbor or receive a person by means of threat, use of force, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, unlawful exertion of influence over a person on account of physical, psychological, educational or any other kind of vulnerability, threat to take abusive legal action, or by providing the parent or guardian of that person money or other benefit in order for the offender to receive consent to exploit the person under the offender’s care; or
(2) facilitating to procure, buy, sell, distribute, bring from or send to any location, detain or confine, harbor or receive a child;
In the case where the act is committed with the intent for unlawful exploitation, the person who commits such act is guilty of trafficking in persons.
“Unlawful exploitation” in Paragraph 1 means exploitation through prostitution, production or distribution of pornographic materials or media, other forms of sexual exploitation, slavery or practices similar to slavery, forced begging, removal of an organ for commercial purposes, forced labor or service, or any other similar action of extortion, regardless of the exploited person’s consent.
Section 52
Section 52 Whoever commits an offence of trafficking in persons shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 4 years to 12 years and to a fine of 400,000 Thai baht to 1,200,000 Thai baht.
If the offence in Paragraph 1 is committed against a person whose age exceeds 15 years but not over 18 years, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 6 years to 15 years and to a fine of 600,000 Thai baht to 1,200,000 Thai baht.one million and five hundred thousand baht.
If the offence in Paragraph 1 is committed against a person not over 15 years of age or against a person with physical disability or mental infirmity, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of 8 years to 20 years and to a fine of 800,000 Thai baht to 2,000,000 Thai baht.
