Police Summons in Thailand: Suspect Rights, Lawyers, Interpreters and Bail for Foreigners

Key points

If you receive a telephone call, LINE message or formal summons from the police in Thailand, first establish your role in the case: are you the person reporting the incident, a witness or a suspect? Do this before explaining the facts to the police.

If you are already a suspect, Thai criminal procedure contains specific rules on notification of charges, the presence of a lawyer, whether to give a statement and interpretation. Foreign nationals who do not speak Thai should understand their role in the case, the charges and the contents of any statement before signing documents.

1. Establish your role when the police contact you

People may be contacted by telephone or LINE, asked to attend a police station to explain an incident, or served with a formal written summons.

In each situation, confirm the police station responsible, the inquiry official, the case number or relevant record, the appointment time and the capacity in which you are being asked to attend.

This matters because the procedural rights of a person reporting an incident, a witness and a suspect differ.

Where the matter may involve criminal liability, first understand the basic information held by the police. You can then assess which documents to prepare, whether a lawyer should accompany you and whether detention or bail may become relevant.

2. What must the police tell you if you are a suspect?

Under section 134 of Thailand’s Criminal Procedure Code, when a suspect is summoned, brought before an inquiry official, attends voluntarily or is identified as a suspect while before an inquiry official, the official must explain the facts relating to the alleged offence and notify the suspect of the specific charges. The suspect is also entitled to a prompt, continuous and fair inquiry, with an opportunity to answer the charges and present facts in their favour.^{[Official source]}

Before formal questioning, you should therefore establish:

What the police believe happened and which offences they are currently considering.

If the facts or charges remain unclear, avoid giving a lengthy explanation based only on your own understanding of the incident.

3. Must a suspect answer every police question?

No.

Section 134/4 of the Criminal Procedure Code requires the inquiry official to inform a suspect before questioning that they may choose whether to give a statement. If they do give a statement, it may be used as evidence in court.

The same provision requires the suspect to be informed of their right to have a lawyer or a person they trust present during questioning.^{[Official source]}

Going to a police station to “clear things up” can therefore have consequences beyond an informal conversation.

Once you are a suspect, your statements may become part of the formal criminal case file. The police inquiry, prosecutorial review and court proceedings may all involve those records.

4. When can you seek a lawyer’s assistance?

Section 134/3 of Thailand’s Criminal Procedure Code confirms a suspect’s right to have a lawyer or a person they trust present during questioning.

Section 134/1 also provides that, in a case carrying the death penalty or where the suspect is aged 18 or younger on the date the charges are notified, the state must provide a lawyer if the suspect has none. In a case carrying imprisonment, the state must provide a lawyer if the suspect has none and wishes to have one.^{[Official source]}

For a foreign national, a lawyer’s role extends beyond accompanying them to the police station.

In practice, it is usually necessary to review the person’s role in the case, the charges, the available evidence, the documents proposed for submission and whether arrest, detention or bail may follow.

5. Can you request an interpreter if you do not speak Thai?

Yes.

Section 13 of Thailand’s Criminal Procedure Code provides that inquiries, preliminary hearings and trials are generally conducted in Thai. If a victim, suspect, defendant or witness cannot speak or understand Thai and has no interpreter, the inquiry official, prosecutor or court must arrange one without delay.

The law also requires interpreters to translate accurately, without adding or omitting content, and to sign the translation.^{[Official source]}

A Chinese-speaking person giving a statement at a police station should therefore avoid signing Thai documents they cannot fully understand merely because someone has given a brief oral explanation.

6. What should you check before signing a police statement?

Section 11 of the Criminal Procedure Code requires a record or statement to be read to the person who made it. Corrections, objections or additions must be addressed or recorded before the person signs to confirm its accuracy.^{[Official source]}

Before signing, check at least your name, the time and place, the account of events, the key answers and whether the interpretation accurately reflects what you intended to say.

If there is an error, request a correction first.

Distinguish a signature confirming attendance at a police station from a signature confirming the contents of an entire statement.

7. Does a summons mean you will definitely be detained?

Not necessarily.

A summons, an arrest and detention are separate procedures.

However, if you are already a suspect, the case may proceed after notification of the charges to consideration of detention or temporary release. Section 134 of Thailand’s Criminal Procedure Code also addresses bringing a suspect before a court to seek detention in specified circumstances, as well as temporary release or custody by the police.^{[Official source]}

Where a case presents a potential criminal risk, prepare for more than what you will say at the police station. Assess in advance whether a bail plan is needed.

8. What should foreign nationals prepare before attending a Thai police station?

As a practical starting point, organise the police notice or summons, your passport and documents showing your status in Thailand, a complete timeline of events and relevant contracts, messages, payment records, photographs and videos.

This does not mean that every document should be submitted at the first visit.

Whether to submit originals or copies, and which evidence to retain for the time being, should be assessed in light of your role and the circumstances of the case.

How THAIHOUSING can assist

Depending on the stage of the case, THAIHOUSING can assist foreign clients with reviewing police notices and their role in the case, organising facts and evidence, arranging a lawyer’s participation in police procedures, supporting communication in Chinese and coordinating interpretation. Where appropriate to the case, the firm can also assist with bail applications and subsequent criminal proceedings.

The approach must be assessed individually based on the charges, evidence, location of the case and current police procedure.

Last verified: 2 October 2026

Main official sources: Sections 11, 13, 134, 134/1, 134/3 and 134/4 of Thailand’s Criminal Procedure Code. The legal resources page of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Ministry of Justice, updated in September 2026, continues to list the Code.^{[Official source]}

Related legal services

• Criminal law services
• Police inquiries and reporting an incident
• Bail services
• Chinese-language legal services