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Criminal defence in Thailand

Thai criminal proceedings run in Thai, on Thai timelines, and largely on the record built during the first police interview. Foreign defendants rarely lose because of the facts; they lose because nobody explained what was being asked of them. We take these cases from the first interview through to appeal.

If proceedings have already started

This list is first aid, not a substitute for counsel. Call and describe the situation: from there it is safer to act on a lawyer’s assessment than on a general checklist.

  1. Do not give statements or write explanations before speaking to defence counsel.
  2. Collect everything already in hand: summonses, records, receipts, correspondence.
  3. Write down the dates — what happened when, and what was signed when.
  4. Check travel restrictions before booking any flight out of the country.
  5. Call us. A first conversation commits you to nothing.

Cases we take

  • Narcotics offences, from possession to alleged supply.
  • Assault, negligent injury and negligent death, including road traffic cases.
  • Theft, fraud and breach of trust, including money disputes that turned criminal.
  • Offences under the Computer Crime Act.
  • Criminal defamation — a real offence in Thailand, and used more often than visitors expect.
  • Weapons offences, forged documents, and immigration or employment breaches with a criminal element.
  • Any other charge: the list above is what comes up most often, not the limit of what we take on.

How a Thai criminal case moves

  1. Police investigation

    Interviews, seizures and forensic work. Almost everything the court will later read is created here.

  2. Public prosecutor

    The prosecutor decides whether to file. Steps available at this stage — further evidence, submissions, settlement with the injured party — close afterwards.

  3. Court of First Instance

    Hearings are spread over weeks and months rather than running consecutively. A contested case commonly takes a year or more.

  4. Judgment

    A sentence may be custodial, suspended, or replaced by a fine. Guilty pleas and compensation to the injured party are treated as mitigation.

  5. Appeal

    Judgments can be appealed, but the filing deadlines are short and are not extended for want of knowledge.

What defence counsel actually does

Reviews the case file for procedural defects: how the search was conducted, whether an interpreter was present, how seizures were recorded, who signed what and when.

Sets the strategy — contesting the facts, contesting the charge, or working towards mitigation. That decision has to be made before the client starts answering questions, not after.

Negotiates with the injured party where settlement genuinely affects the outcome. In Thailand it affects it more than most foreign clients expect.

Keeps the family informed in plain language.

A verdict is not where the case ends

A first-instance judgment feels like the end of the road. It is not: Thailand has a Court of Appeal and a Supreme Court, and even a final judgment can be reheard on newly discovered facts.

After that come the stages nobody explains in advance — parole, reduction of the regime, a royal pardon or a collective amnesty, and transfer to serve the sentence at home where a treaty exists between Thailand and your country.

Each has its own conditions and its own deadlines, and the deadlines are the real opponent: a missed appeal period closes a door that takes far longer to open again. So the conversation is worth having even after a verdict — and sooner rather than in a month.

Why the attorney must be licensed in Thailand

Only a lawyer admitted by the Lawyers Council of Thailand may represent a defendant before a Thai court. No consultant, agent or fixer can do this, however confidently they describe their connections.

Our attorney holds that licence and conducts the case personally. The rest of the team handles communication in English and Russian so that nothing reaches you third-hand.

Frequently asked questions

Can I be prosecuted for something that is legal at home?
Yes. Thai law applies on Thai territory. Defamation, certain handling of electronic data, and a number of substances and items are treated very differently from what most visitors are used to.
How long does a criminal case take?
From a few months for straightforward matters to eighteen months or more for contested ones, longer with an appeal. Long gaps between hearings are normal in the Thai courts, not a sign that something is wrong.
Can the case be settled with the injured party?
For compoundable offences a settlement ends the case. For others it is mitigation only and the prosecution continues. Which applies depends on the specific section charged.
Will I be released during the proceedings?
Usually yes, if the court grants bail. The amount and the form of security depend on the charge and the circumstances — see our page on bail.
What happens to my visa?
A criminal case almost always affects immigration status, up to visa cancellation and a re-entry ban. Those consequences should be modelled during the case, not discovered after judgment.
Do you work outside Phuket and Bangkok?
Yes. Those two cities are where we are based permanently; we travel to Pattaya, Krabi, Samui, Chiang Mai and elsewhere in the country as cases require.

Practice areas

Need a lawyer right now?

A duty lawyer answers around the clock. If you or someone close to you has been detained, call without waiting for morning: the first hours matter more than the rest of the case.