Penal Code Amendment Act (No. 14), B.E. 2540 (1997)

BHUMIBHOL ADULYADEJ, REX.
His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej is graciously pleased to proclaim that:
Whereas it is expedient to revise the Penal Code;

Be it, therefore, enacted by the King, by and with the advice and consent of the Parliament, as follows:

Section 1 This Act shall be called the “Penal Code Amendment Act (No. 14), B.E. 2540 (1997)”.

Section 2 This Act shall come into force on and from the day following the date of its publication in the Royal Gazette.

Section 3 This provision shall be added to be Sub-section (2 bis.) of Section 7 of the Penal Code:

“2 bis. Sexual offences as provided in Section 282 and Section 283”.

Section 4 The provisions in Section 282 and Section 283 of the Penal Code as amended by the Penal Code Amendment Act (No. 8), B.E. 2530 shall be repealed and these new provisions shall be replaced:

“Section 282 Whoever, for sexual gratification of another person, procures, lures, or traffics a man or woman for an indecent sexual purpose, even with his or her consent, shall be punished with imprisonment of one to ten years, and a fine of two thousand to twenty thousand Baht.

If the commission of the offence in the first paragraph is committed against a person over fifteen years but not yet over eighteen years of age, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of three to fifteen years, and a fine of six thousand to thirty thousand Baht. If the commission of the offence in the first paragraph is committed against a person not yet over fifteen years of age, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of five to twenty years, and a fine of ten thousand to forty thousand Baht.

Whoever, for sexual gratification of another person, receives the person who was procured, lured, or trafficked as provided in the first, second or third paragraph, or aids or abets in the commission of such offence, shall be punished with the punishment accordingly provided in the first, second, or third paragraph as the case may be.

Section 283 Whoever, for sexual gratification of another person, procures, lures, or traffics a man or woman for an indecent sexual purpose, by using the deceitful means, threats, physical assault, immoral influence, or mental coercion by any means, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of five to twenty years, and a fine of ten thousand to forty thousand Baht.

If the commission of the offence in the first paragraph is committed against a person over fifteen years but not yet over eighteen years of age, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of seven to twenty years, and a fine of fourteen thousand to forty thousand Baht, or life imprisonment.

If the commission of the offence in the first paragraph is committed against a person not yet over fifteen years of age, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of ten to twenty years, and a fine of twenty thousand to forty thousand Baht, or life imprisonment, or death penalty.

Whoever, for sexual gratification of another person, receives the person who was procured, lured, or trafficked as provided in the first, second, or third paragraph, or aids or abets in the commission of such offence, shall be punished with the punishment accordingly provided in the first, second, or third paragraph as the case may be.”

Section 5 This provision shall be added to be Section 283 bis of the Penal Code:

“Section 283 bis Whoever brings a person over fifteen years but not yet over eighteen years of age for an indecent sexual purpose, even with the consent of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding ten thousand Baht, or both.

If the commission of the offence in the first paragraph is committed against a person not yet over fifteen years of age, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding seven years, or a fine not exceeding fourteen thousand Baht, or both.

Whoever conceals the person, who was brought away as provided in the first or second paragraph, shall be punished with the punishment accordingly provided in the first or second paragraph.

The commission of the offence which age over fifteen year olds in the first or third paragraph to person can be settlement.”

Section 6 The provision in Section 284 of the Penal Code as amended by the Penal Code Amendment Act (No. 5), B.E. 2525 shall be repealed and this new provisions shall be repla ced:

“Section 284 Whoever brings another person for an indecent sexual purpose, by using a deceitful mean, threat, physical assault, immoral influence, or mental coercion by any mean, shall be punished with imprisonment of one to ten years, and a fine of two thousand to twenty thousand Baht.

Whoever conceals the person who was brought away as provided in the first paragraph shall be punished with the same punishment as the offender who brought that person away.
The offence in this Section is the compoundable offence.”

Section 7 This provision shall be added to be Section 312 ter of the Penal Code:

“Section 312 ter Whoever, for gaining illegal benefit, receives, sells, procures, fures, or traffics a person over fifteen years but not yet over eighteen years of age, even with the consent of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding ten thousand Baht, or both.

If the commission of the offence in the first paragraph is committed against a person not yet over fifteen years of age, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding seven years, or a fine not exceeding fourteen thousand Baht, or both.“

Countersigned by
Mr. Chuan Leekpai
Prime Minister

Note: English translations of the original Thai law texts are prepared for reference purposes only. Only the Thai script versions, as published in the royal Thai government gazette (ราชกิจจานุเบกษา), shall have legal force in Thailand.