Ronnakorn Bunmee
Assistant Professor Dr.
Ronnakorn Bunmee
Assistant Professor Dr.
Profile
Ronnakorn has taught law at Thammasat University since 2008. His research focuses on the philosophical foundations of criminal law, comparative criminal law, and human rights law. A prolific scholar, he has published extensively in both Thai and English. Beyond academia, Ronnakorn has contributed significantly to the legal field, serving as a member of the Committee on the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance, as well as an expert on the rights of vulnerable individuals for the National Human Rights Commission.
Ronnakorn has also prepared four country reports on key United Nations human rights instruments: the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Common Core Document.
In addition to these roles, he has acted as an expert witness in high-profile criminal cases both in Thailand and internationally. Notable cases include Neville, R (On the Application of) v. Secretary of State for Justice [2021] EWHC 957 (Admin), Thai Constitutional Court case no. 3/2567 (2024), Thai Supreme Court case no. KorMorJor 5/2566 (2023), and Maxwell Chambers (Singapore) SIAC ARB 163/13/AP (2015).
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Doctor of Laws (LLD), Thammasat University
- Master of Laws (LLM) with Merit in Human Rights Law, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK (Recipient of the UK Government Chevening Scholarship)
- Master of Laws (LLM) in Criminal Law, Thammasat University
- Barrister-at-Law, The Thai Bar
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Second Class Honours, Thammasat University
- Certificate in International Criminal Law: In Theory and Practice, Universiteit Leiden, Netherlands
- Certificate in the Executive Programme on the Implementation of International Standards and Norms in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ)
- Certificate in the Executive Development Program, Thammasat University
- License to Practice Law, The Thai Lawyers Council
Work Experience
Current Positions
- 2024 – Present: Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Legal Affairs, Thammasat University
- 2024 – Present: Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Amendments to the Penal Code regarding Sexual Offences, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
- 2024 – Present: President of the Sanya Dhammasak Library Committee, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University.
- 2024 – Present: Expert on Legal Affairs, appointed by the National Human Rights Commission.
- 2023 – Present: Member of the Committee on the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance, appointed by the Cabinet.
Previous Positions
- 2021 – 2024: Expert on the Rights of Vulnerable Groups, including Children, Women, Senior Citizens, and Non-Discrimination, appointed by the National Human Rights Commission.
- 2020: Member of the Subcommittee on Amendments to the Penal Code concerning Obstruction of Justice, appointed by the Office of the Council of State.
- 2018 – 2023: Member of the Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture and Enforced Disappearance, appointed by the Prime Minister.
- 2019 – 2022: Associate Dean for Innovation and Development, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University.
- 2019 – 2022: Director of Graduate Programmes, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University.
- 2011 – 2013: Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University.
- 2010 – 2011: Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University.
- 2009 – 2010: Member of the Faculty Senate, Thammasat University.
Professional Experience
- Expert Witness (Selected Foreign Cases)
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- England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court): R (Neville) v Secretary of State for Justice [2021] EWHC 957 (Admin).
- Singapore International Arbitration Centre: ARB 163/13/AP.
- Expert Witness (Selected Thai Cases)
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- Constitutional Court: Ruling No. 3/2567.
- Supreme Court: KorMorJor.5/2566.
- Criminal Court: Aor.875/2565.
- Criminal Court: Aor. 1366/2564..
- Criminal Court: Aor. 286/2564.
- Bangkok South Criminal Court: Aor.363/2567.
- Thanyaburi Provincial Court: Aor. 2075/2567
- Thanyaburi Provincial Court: Aor. 1021/2564.
Areas of Expertise
- Philosophy of Criminal Law
- Comparative Criminal Law
- Human Rights Law
Courses Taught
- Faculty of Law, Thammasat University
- Doctor of Laws
- Legal Methodology
- Graduated Seminar
- Master of Laws (Business Law) (International Programme)
- Advanced Criminal Law
- Advanced Business Crimes
- Master of Laws (Thai Programme)
- Advanced Criminal Law
- Advanced Criminal Procedures
- Selected Problems in Criminal Law
- Criminal Law Seminar
- International Criminal Law
- Administration of Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Laws (English Program)
- General Principles of Criminal Law
- International Criminal Law
- Business Crime
- General Principles of Procedural Law
- Bachelor of Laws (Thai Programme)
- Criminal Law: General Principles
- Criminal Law: Offences
- International Human Rights Law
- Criminal Law Seminar
- Comparative Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure
- International Criminal Law
- Doctor of Laws
- Other Institutions (Selected)
- NUS College, National University of Singapore
- Centre for Asian Legal Studies, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore
- College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Thammasat University
- Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University
- Faculty of Law, Dhurakij Pundit University
- Faculty of Law, Kon Kaen University
- Faculty of Law, Kon Kaen University (Nong Khai campus)
- Faculty of Law, Mae Fah Luang University
- Faculty of Law, Pathumthani University
- Faculty of Law, Ramkhamhaeng University
- Faculty of Law, Rangsit University
- Faculty of Law, Sripatum University (Kon Kaen campus)
- Faculty of Law, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce
- Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University
- Department of Rights and Liberties Protection, Ministry of Justice
- Department of Special Investigation, Ministry of Justice
- Department of Technical Affairs, Office of the Attorney General
- Institute of Investigation and Interrogation Affairs, Royal Thai Police
- Office of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
- Police College, Royal Thai Police
Publications
- Books and Book Chapters published in English
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Abortion Law in Thailand: A Big Step Forward?’ in Mary Ziegler (ed), Research Handbook on International Abortion Law (Edward Elgar Publishing 2023) https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839108150.00014.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, Thai Criminal Law (LexisNexis 2024) https://www.lexread.lexisnexis.com/product/thai-criminal-law .
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, Wing-Cheong Chan, Phanthasak Mingnakhone, Perrine Simon, and Stanley Yeo, The Lao Penal Code: A Comparative Discourse (LexisNexis, 2025 forthcoming).
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, Human Rights in Thailand, in Sarah Biddulph and Kathryn Taylor (eds) Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Asian Law (Edward Elgar, 2025 forthcoming).
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, The new Narcotics Code of Thailand: A promising law?, in Chan Wing-Cheong, Mai Sato and Michael Hor (eds), Capital Drug Laws in Asia, (Cambridge University Press, 2025 forthcoming).
- Country Reports published in English
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Thailand Country Report’ in ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, Thematic Study on Legal Aid (2019) 144-155, funded by ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights <AICHR-Thematic-Study-on-Legal-Aid-for-web.pdf>.
- Narong Jaiharn and Ronnakorn Bunmee, The Draft of Thailand Common Core Document (2021) funded by the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection, Ministry of Justice, available at https://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=FhOD6sgqgzAhFXD9F%2FeKaFMm83LbFY75RhkIFGrig%2B4ioaqy7zJjhdwGJqu1dRHllUVgtwCpOtLq5EkHTsrJtHFgTDfcIVrkna5IpCD%2Boip7TaTUtHBrknQinptHZ6mi.
- Narong Jaiharn and Ronnakorn Bunmee, The Draft of Thailand 2nd Country Report on the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (2021) funded by the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection, Ministry of Justice, available at
https://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2FPPRiCAqhKb7yhsk2oy72JlefPnicA9mLXtq9w4QdvpuJDyndFvgazCoe2WmlQuKrnJkHx%2Bzu7EdFJUi6%2FXeQTdJtr4PodzxdeV8NXJrHWFWJcmTjraPlzTmAl.
- Articles published in English
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘The Role of Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, in Promoting Access to Justice in Thailand during the Covid-19 Pandemic’ in KEIGLAD: Keio Institute for Global Law and Development, Promoting the Rule of Law in Asian Dynamics (2021) (Tokyo: 慶應義塾大学出版会).
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Examining Elements of Rape Offences in Thailand’ (2019) 48 Thammasat Law Journal 1, 200-219 available at
https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tulawjournal/article/view/176807/136265. - Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘The Criminal Law as the Ultima Ratio: The Principle That Needs a Qualification’ (2018) Nititham Prachak Surasak 60 Phee, 230-254.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘An Experience Gained by Visiting the AGC (Singapore)’ (2018) 3 ASEAN Prosecutor Community Newsletter 8, 26-32.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Criminalising Remote-Harm Conducts: Are They Wrongful?’ in Sahetapy E et al (eds), Tackling Financial Crimes (Yogyakarta: Genta Publishing 2017) 3-26.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Preparatory Offences: a Challenge to Criminal Law Boundaries, Democracy and Human Rights Principles’ (July 2016) 2 Social Science Asia: Official Journal of the National Research Council of Thailand in conjunction with the Journal of Thai Justice System 3, 1-29 available at
http://164.115.28.46/nrctejournal/file_upload/digital_file/98_36b34.pdf.
- Books and Book Chapters published in Thai
- Twekiat Menakanist and Ronnakorn Bunmee, Annotated Penal Code (49th edn, Winyuchon 2024).
- Twekiat Menakanist and Ronnakorn Bunmee, Textbook on Criminal Law: The General Part (26th edn, Winyuchon 2024).
- Twekiat Menakanist and Ronnakorn Bunmee, Textbook on Criminal Law: The Specific Part and Petty Offences (20th edn, Winyuchon 2022).
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘The Six Principles of the Use of Force by Officials’ in The Royal Thai Police, The Guidelines for the Use of Force and Arms (Police Publishing 2022).
- Country Reports published in Thai
- Narong Jaiharn and Ronnakorn Bunmee, The Draft of Thailand Country Initial Report on the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (2010) funded by the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection, Ministry of Justice.
- Articles published in Thai
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘The Right to Remain Silent in England’ (2009) 38 (2) Thammasat Law Journal 291-324.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘The Necessity Defence and the Offence of Torture’ (2009) 38 (4) Thammasat Law Journal 430-454.
- Aimpaga Techa-Apikun and Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Parents’ Criminal Liabilities Derived from the Breach of Parental Authorities according to French Law’ (2010) 39 Thammasat Law Journal 1, 7-95.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Killing to Save Life: The Case of the Conjoined Twins’ (2010) 39 Thammasat Law Journal 2, 306-338.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Resisting Unlawful Arrest: A Comparative Study between the Laws of Thailand and the United States’ (2010) 39 Thammasat Law Journal 3, 527-552.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Post-Penetration Rape’ (2010) 39 Thammasat Law Journal 4, 769-787.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘The New Law of Attempted Rape’ (2010) Essays in Memory of Professor Dr Pairojana Kampusiri, 151-189.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Comments on Justification and Excuse’ (2011) 40 Thammasat Law Journal 2, 321-335.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘The Defence of Necessity: Applying to the Offence of Murder’ (2012) 40 Thammasat Law Journal 1, 76-108.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘The Offences of Unnatural Sex in Singapore’ (2012) 41 Thammasat Law Journal 4, 496-510.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘The Problem of the Definition and Criminalization of Torture in Thailand’ (2015) Raphee 2015 Journal, 39-66.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Preparatory Offences: An Analysis from a Human-Right-Principle and Democracy Perspective’ (2016) presented at the “1st National Academic Conference ‘Nitipat-Thammasat’“, 28 January 2016 at National Institute Development Administration, 83-105.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Exam Review: Judicial Examination Question 1: Criminal Law on August 2, 2015’ (2016) 45 Thammasat Law Journal 2, 357-364.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘What is Criminal Law?’ (2016) 45 Thammasat Law Journal 3, 883-886.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Voyeurism—is it a crime?’ (2017) Raphee 2017 Journal, 22-37.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Rape by Fraud: A Comment on Supreme Court Decision No. 10007/2557 and Beyond’ (2017) 46 Thammasat Law Journal 3, 647-663.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘The Relationship between Criminal Law and Human Rights Law’ (2018) 15th Anniversary Faculty of Law Thammasat University Lampang Campus, 92-104.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘No crime without law: the application of the principle in the Anglo-American legal system’ (2018) 74 Bot Bundit 4, 143-178.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘It is a mistake to apply a mistaken justification as a justification’ (2018) 60 Phee Pee Yai Jaiharn, 280-303.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Criminal Preparation: A Dutch Lesson’ (2018) 47 Thammasat Law Journal 3, 771-778.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Placing a person outside the protection of the law: a missing element from the Prevention and Suppression Acts of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Bill’ (2019) 60 Phee Udom Ratamarit, 405-413.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Should Procedural Safeguards in Criminal Proceedings be Applied to other Sanctions apart from Criminal Punishment?: A Lesson from the European Court of Human Rights’ (2019) Constitution 2019: 60 Years of Somkit Lertpaithoon, 605-619.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Taking Your Child Out of School to Travel Abroad is a Crime: A Lesson from England’ (2020) Sanfan 60 Phee Archan Whell: Associate Professor Dr Phunthip Kanchanachitra Saisoonthorn. 366-377.
- Ronnakorn Bunmee, ‘Thai Penal Code section 285/1 and the Presumption of Innocence’ (2020) in 60 Phee Professor Dr. Surapon Nitikraipot, 511-530.
- Research published in Thai
- Narong Jaiharn and Ronnakorn Bunmee, The External Evaluation of the National Health Foundation’s Projects (2010) funded by the National Health Foundation.
- Narong Jaiharn and Ronnakorn Bunmee, The Curriculum for Officials and Instructors regarding the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (2011) funded by the Right and Liberties Protection Department, Thai Ministry of Justice.
- Narong Jaiharn, Pokpong Srisanit, Surasit Sangvirojanapat, and Ronnakorn Bunmee, The Classification of Crimes (2011) funded by the Office of Justice Affairs, Thai Ministry of Justice.
- Narong Jaiharn, Ronnakorn Bunmee, A Study on a Possibility of Amendments of the Witness Protection Act (2012) funded by the Right and Liberties Protection Department, Thai Ministry of Justice.
- Narong Jaiharn and Ronnakorn Bunmee, The Draft of Law against Enforced Disappearance (2013) funded by the Right and Liberties Protection Department, Thai Ministry of Justice.
- Narong Jaiharn, Ronnakorn Bunmee, Chartsuwan K, and Saengsanthitam L, Policy Paper on Justice Fund: Research and Analysis on Legal Aid Efficiency and Effectiveness in Thailand’s Deep South Conflict (2013) funded by the European Union and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
http://www.deepsouthwatch.org/sites/default/files/justice_fund_report.pdf. - Pokpong Srisanit, Ronnakorn Bunmee, Nantouch Kitranan, and Bunyapat Chukiat, Forfeiture Measures: A Comparative Study with Doctrines and Jurisprudence of Foreign Countries (2014) funded by the Office of the Attorney General of Thailand.
- Narong Jaiharn, Ronnakorn Bunmee, Preeyaporn Ubonsawat, and Pakpoom Lohavaritanon, The Offence of Fraud: A Comparative Study Between the Thai Law and the Law of ASEAN Countries (2014) funded by the Office of the Attorney General of Thailand.
- Surasak Likasitwattanakul, Pokpong Srisanit, Ronnakorn Bunmee, and Weerawsak Sangsarapan, A Guideline to Develop the System of Making Testimony in Thai Courts According to the Amended Laws on Evidence (2016) funded by Rabi Bhadanasak Research and Development Institute, Courts of Justice of Thailand.
- Narong Jaiharn, Ronnakorn Bunmee, Preechanok Chullao, How to Develop Legal Aid System: Preparation to be Part of the ASEAN Economics Community (2016) funded by the Right and Liberties Protection Department, Thai Ministry of Justice.
- Pokpong Srisanit and Ronnakorn Bunmee, The State 3rd Report regarding the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Phrase 1 (2019) funded by the Right and Liberties Protection Department, Thai Ministry of Justice.
- Pokpong Srisanit, Ronnakorn Bunmee, Sora-at N, and Komalchun K, The Amendments of Laws against Corruptions (2019) funded by Thailand Research Fund.
- Pokpong Srisanit and Ronnakorn Bunmee, Enhancement of Legal Knowledge to Safeguard Society against Dangers Potentially Posed by Individuals Released from Prison (2023) funded by the Office of Justice Affairs, Thai Ministry of Justice.
- Udom Ratamrit, Teera Sindecharak, Ronnakorn Bunmee et al., Secured and Transparent Pre-Trial Criminal Justice through Digital Technology (2023) funded by the Office of the Attorney General.
