Court Officers Arrest Fugitives in 22,000 Outstanding Cases

Picture courtesy of MGR

Court officials have revealed that Thailand’s court marshals have tracked down and arrested defendants who absconded from trial proceedings under more than 22,000 outstanding warrants, significantly helping stalled cases to proceed. The figures highlight the expanding enforcement role of court marshals in ensuring the justice system can function effectively. Officials said the results demonstrate tangible progress in reducing long-standing cases.

The disclosure was made on 13 January 2026 by Suriyan Hongwilai, spokesperson for the Office of the Judiciary. He explained that court marshals, formally known as judicial police officers, operate under the Office of the Judiciary and are directly supervised by its Security Centre. Their mandate combines courtroom security with legal enforcement duties authorised by the courts.

Court marshals are responsible for protecting people and state property within court premises, including members of the public and judicial staff. Their work includes maintaining security systems, monitoring risk areas and detecting offences such as weapons possession or illegal drugs being brought into court buildings, which are reportedly found daily nationwide. They are also tasked with intervening in and suppressing violent incidents occurring within court grounds.

Beyond security, their second core duty is enforcement of court orders. This includes pursuing defendants who were granted temporary release but later fled, as well as individuals who defy summonses or court orders. According to the spokesperson, this enforcement role is critical to ensuring trials can continue and judgments can be delivered.

Court marshals are divided into two categories. Operational officers must be no older than 35 when joining and hold at least a bachelor’s degree in law, political science, public administration, or related fields with compulsory criminal law and criminal procedure studies. Another group, operational staff, must be no older than 27 on joining and hold qualifications above upper secondary education, such as vocational diplomas, in line with criteria set by the Office of the Judiciary.

All recruits undergo formal training before deployment. At present, 679 court marshals are stationed nationwide, averaging one to four officers per court depending on caseload and responsibilities, with the Criminal Court employing eight officers. Career progression can reach as high as Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of the Judiciary.

Manager online reported that statistics show that from 5 October 2021 to 31 December 2025, court marshals executed 22,172 court warrants. In 2025 alone, 5,133 warrants were enforced, many cases proceeding without public attention. Officials said future plans include establishing regional coordination centres under appellate judicial offices to further integrate and improve operations.

Key Takeaways

• Court marshals enforced 22,172 arrest warrants between October 2021 and December 2025.

• A total of 5,133 warrants were executed in 2025 alone, according to the judiciary.

• The Office of the Judiciary plans regional coordination centres to boost efficiency.

Adapted by ASEAN Now from MGRonline 2026-01-15