Criminal Defense Representation

If you have been arrested for a crime in Thailand, it is vital to get a bilingual criminal defense attorney on your side as quickly as possible. You do not need to answer any questions or sign any papers unless your lawyer is present, as per your rights in Thailand, so having a reliable attorney guiding you through the process and interacting with the authorities on your behalf ensures you do not incriminate yourself or get in more trouble due to misunderstandings. Having early access to criminal defense representation helps prevent these problems before they escalate.

Sound legal advice at this early stage also gives you the best chance at resolving the issue without going to court, but if your case does go to trial, you want someone by your side who has been there since the beginning. Early criminal defense representation can make a major difference in how your case unfolds.

Siam Legal is a full-service law firm that has successfully represented foreign clients in criminal cases for over 20 years. If you or someone you know has been arrested in Thailand, we can provide services for every stage of the legal process that give you the best chance of resolving your case as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. We offer criminal defense representation tailored to each client’s situation.

Our experienced criminal defense team can negotiate with the public prosecutor once formal charges have been filed, explore legal actions to reduce the sentencing, and, if necessary, doggedly fight for your rights and freedom in court. Strong criminal defense representation at this stage can help reduce the risk of harsh penalties.

If you have been arrested but have not yet been charged or are facing deportation for immigration-related issues, see our page on legal services for foreigners arrested in Thailand. Those services are useful for posting bail and getting assistance from friends and relatives abroad. These pretrial options are often part of our broader criminal defense representation.

Interacting with the Thai Public Prosecutor

Once you have been charged with a crime, a Thai public prosecutor will be assigned to your case, who will decide if and how the government pursues charges against you. At this critical stage, you need to clarify your circumstances and submit evidence demonstrating your innocence in order to get the case dropped or reduce the charges. Criminal defense representation during this period is especially important.

Forgiveness is an integral part of Thai culture, and for minor charges, foreigners are sometimes given the opportunity to publicly apologize to avoid prosecution. The police may also be willing to drop the charges if appropriate evidence can be found that exonerates the accused. Your criminal defense representation can help guide you through this cultural and legal process.

Alternatively, the prosecutor can be convinced that certain severe charges will be difficult to prove and not worth pursuing, and instead level lesser charges that come with less severe consequences.

But to achieve any of these goals, you’ll need an experienced and bilingual criminal defense lawyer from a reliable law firm like Siam Legal to assist you. For a fixed fee, we will guide you through this pretrial stage and do whatever it takes to have your case dismissed or at least minimize the charges and consequences. This is all part of the criminal defense representation we provide from the earliest stages of your case.

Siam Legal’s litigation team will:

• Act as your legal representative, interpreter, and guide, facilitating the process and keeping you informed of what is happening with your case.

• Liaise with the public prosecutor to find a way to get the charges dropped.

• Help you find, prepare, and present evidence that might exonerate you.

• Exercise your legal right to pursue lesser charges and reduced sentencing.

• Make contact with your family and friends to ensure they are informed of your situation.

Other criminal defense law firms may demand that you retain them for full representation at this early stage or charge by the hour. Siam Legal provides this pretrial package of services for a flat rate, so our goal is always to help you gain your freedom in the swiftest and most efficient manner possible. We focus on practical and results-driven criminal defense representation without unnecessary delays.

However, should the prosecutor insist on a trial, Siam Legal’s criminal defense team stands ready to fight for your rights in court and work for the best possible outcome on your behalf.

Thai Criminal Defense Attorney Representation

An important thing to be aware of about the Thai criminal justice system is that there is no plea bargaining as there is in the US and other countries. You can’t cut a deal and plead guilty to certain charges to get others dropped, and you can’t negotiate alternative sentencing in exchange for pleading guilty. This makes criminal defense representation even more critical, since outcomes often depend on early decisions.

However, this does not mean that you cannot minimize the consequences of your criminal case by confessing to your crime and pleading guilty. As mentioned earlier, forgiveness is a significant virtue in Thai society.

There are no juries in Thai courts, and the presiding judge has sole discretion over the verdict and sentencing. If you confess and plead guilty, the judge will likely consider this and issue a lighter sentence than if you had contested the charges and lost. In this situation, criminal defense representation helps present your case clearly and appropriately.

Judges may be lenient if:

• You show genuine remorse for your actions

• You have family that relies on you for support, and your imprisonment would have an excessively negative impact on their livelihood

• There were extenuating circumstances surrounding your crime

• You promise to atone for your crime in approved ways

• It would be more beneficial to the victim if you were able to work to provide compensation

For a reduced service price, Siam Legal provides assistance with drafting a confession, presenting your guilty plea to the judge, and submitting a petition in support of the plea that clarifies the reasons why you deserve a lesser sentence. This service is a specific type of criminal defense representation aimed at reducing penalties without going to trial.

There are no set criteria for who does and does not deserve lenience, which is why you need our experienced criminal defense attorney to draft a clarification tailored to your situation and in line with the expectations of Thai judges.

Siam Legal’s criminal defense team will assess your situation and draft a confession that gives you the best chance at the lowest possible sentence. This service costs a fixed, reduced fee compared to full representation. So, if the case is too strong against you or you wish to atone for what you have done, Siam Legal will help you save time and money while helping to put this behind you as swiftly as possible.

But if you are set on fighting your charges in court, our criminal defense attorneys are ready, willing, and able to effectively represent you. You’ll receive strong courtroom-focused criminal defense representation built on strategy and experience.

Criminal Defense Representation in Thai Court to Fight for Your Freedom

If instead of pleading guilty you wish to dispute the charges and try to exonerate yourself in court, Siam Legal’s litigation team will do whatever it takes to prove your innocence.

This service costs more than simply drafting a confession, as it will take much longer to defend you throughout the trial. However, like all of our criminal defense services, our fee is a fixed rate, meaning no hourly charges. This incentivizes us to ensure an expedient resolution to your case and prevents the possibility of you paying endless lawyer fees for a long and drawn-out case.

Siam Legal’s criminal defense attorneys will:

• Work with you to draft a customized legal strategy that gives you the best chance of success

• Gather, prepare, and review evidence to support your innocence

• Recommend witnesses for the defense, questioning defense witnesses, and cross-examining those brought by the prosecution

• Argue your case against the opposing party before the judge

• In the event that you lose your case, either help you secure humane treatment by the justice system or prepare an appeal to a higher court

With Siam Legal’s expert legal teams and our firm's two decades of experience on your side, you have the best chance at securing your freedom and minimizing the consequences of your criminal charges. Our criminal defense representation is built on proven outcomes and professional integrity.

Don’t Leave Your Freedom to Chance. Partner with Siam Legal For Criminal Defense Representation

Prison is not a pleasant place, especially when it’s in a country that’s not your own, and a criminal conviction in Thailand will have far-reaching consequences here and abroad. If you’re facing criminal charges in Thailand, do not risk your freedom trying to defend yourself or trusting unreliable and unproven criminal defense lawyers.

Contact Siam Legal and leverage our multiple skilled legal teams and decades of experience defending foreigners to give yourself the best possible chance at clearing your name and securing your freedom. You deserve criminal defense representation that works in your best interest at every step.