Pleading Guilty in Criminal Cases under Thai Law

Under the Thai Criminal Procedure Code, a defendant who pleads guilty may be entitled to a reduction of the sentence by half. This principle applies to many criminal offences and serves as an incentive for defendants to accept responsibility for their actions.

However, in serious criminal offences carrying imprisonment of more than five years — such as murder, which may result in life imprisonment or the death penalty — the process is different. Even when a defendant pleads guilty, the court cannot immediately render judgment based solely on the confession.

In such cases, the prosecutor is still required to present evidence before the court, including:

• The weapon used in the crime
• Forensic and DNA test results
• CCTV footage
• Testimony from witnesses

The judge must carefully examine this evidence before determining guilt and passing sentence. This safeguard ensures that convictions in serious cases are based not only on a confession, but also on credible supporting evidence.

Key Takeaways:
• Pleading guilty may lead to a reduced sentence under Thai law.
• In serious offences (punishable by more than five years), the court must still hear evidence before sentencing.

• Defendants should always seek legal advice to understand the implications of pleading guilty in their case.

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