As COVID-19 continues to cause disruptions in the daily lives of people in Thailand, it has also (again) caused potential delays for the courts and prisons in Thailand. Currently, we are in the middle of the Songkran (Thai New Year) holiday. However, we have reached out to our contacts at various courts in Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, and elsewhere for comment on the situation. At this time, Thailand Bail has been advised that the Courts of Justice has made an announcement encouraging each court to consider further postponements to cases.

However, they are leaving the final decision to the head of each court. Thailand Bail has been advised by the relevant court officials that most courts will have a decision on this matter tomorrow, 16 April 2021.

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Expectations of How COVID-19 Will Affect Court Hearings in Thailand

Whilst we still do not know each individual court’s decision on COVID-19 postponements, we have extrapolate the likely impact, based on earlier postponements in 2020 and again in the beginning of 2021. Thailand Bail expects most cases involving Thai banks, as well as most civil cases involving individuals, to be postponed for 1-4 months. Thailand Bail also expects certain criminal matters to be postponed for 1-3 months. We saw this happen in 2020 and again in January 2021, when court hearings for criminal cases were postponed from January to April or May 2021. However, Thailand Bail does not expect serious criminal matters, especially those where the defendant is not out on bail in Thailand, to be postponed. If they are postponed, we expect these serious criminal matters to be postponed for not more than 30 days. However, we note that the final decision rests with the head judges at each court.

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Expectations of How COVID-19 Will Affect Visitation at Prisons in Thailand

Unlike the courts’ decisions, which we expect to come tomorrow, the prisons have mostly already updated their COVID-19 policies. Most prisons, including Bang Kwang Central Prison, Bangkok Remand Prison, and others, have extended the ban on family visitation through May 2021, when another decision will need to be made. However, Thailand Bail’s lawyers and staff are still permitted to visit at every prison in Thailand, so if you need visitation, please contact Thailand Bail. The most recent extension of the ban on visitation came after prisons in the South of Thailand experienced an outbreak of COVID-19, as well as the IDC COVID-19 outbreak recently.

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For More Information About COVID-19 and Thailand’s Courts and Prisons

Thailand Bail hopes everyone stays safe during these times, and if you have specific questions about the courts and prisons in Thailand during COVID-19 in 2021, please contact Thailand Bail’s lawyers and staff for further information through the contact page on this website.