Until recently, issuing a cheque without sufficient funds was a criminal offence in Thailand, and people convicted of using a bad cheque faced possible jail time. But the Thai Cabinet has now approved a bill decriminalising “bounced” cheques under most circumstances, so that people are not faced with imprisonment simply because of defaulting on debt repayment.
Reservations about repealing the law have been expressed, however, due to the significant damages bad cheques cause to creditors in terms of time and resources and the lengthy civil proceedings that are required to recover payments. Others argue that criminal liability should be retained not just for the most serious offences, but if it can be proved that a debtor has issued a cheque dishonestly without the intention to pay.
Join the discussion with IAS Advisory co-founding partner Mr Anuwat Ngamprasertkul in an episode of the popular evening TV programme Home Economy, hosted by veteran news anchor, reporter and journalist Dr Wit Sittivaekin
This episode premiered on Tuesday 2nd January 2024 on Thai PBS, Thailand’s public broadcasting service. Disclaimer: all content is owned by Thai PBS. Visit the Thai PBS website here: https://www.thaipbs.or.th/home