Officials of both Thailand and foreign countries who have demanded or accepted bribes may now face a death penalty under the new law published in the Royal Gazette on Sunday.
The law — the No. 3 amendment to the 1999 anti-corruption law — applies to officials of Thailand, foreign states or international organisations.
Section 123/2 increases the punishments on officials who have demanded, accepted or agreed to accept assets or other benefits for themselves or others in order to do or refrain from doing anything in office, whether it is legitimate not.
They will now be punished with imprisonment from five to 20 years, life in prison, a fine from 100,000 to 400,000 baht, or death.
Section 123/3 provides anyone who has done or refrained from doing anything in office for assets or other benefits he has demanded, accepted or agreed to accept before assuming that position shall face a jail term from five to 20 years, life in prison or a fine of 100,000 to 400,000 baht, but not death.