Singha heir was sued by mum under 'ungrateful child law', accused of damaging family's reputation

As the ongoing dispute within one of Thailand’s wealthiest families continues, questions have been raised about the century-old law at the centre of the matter.

The mother of Siranudh “Psi” Scott, the alleged victim in the case, had in February sued her younger son under Thailand’s unique “Ungrateful Child” law.

Chiranuj Bhirombhakdi, the matriarch of the Singha Beer family, had initiated the lawsuit over an inheritance dispute involving assets from his late grandfather.

She also accused her son of damaging the family's reputation after Siranudh publicly accused his elder brother, Sunit "Pi" Scott, of sexually abusing him during his teenage years.

Neglectful children

The century-old "ungrateful child" law, as reported by AFP, via the Malay Mail, and the Telegraph, is intended to protect parents from neglectful children.

It enables parents to revoke gifts if their children are considered “ungrateful, physically abusive, neglectful in old age, or responsible for serious reputational harm".

In her suit, Chiranuj argued that Siranudh has damaged the family's reputation.

She is looking to reclaim millions of dollars worth of land gifted to Siranudh by his late grandfather, Chamnong Bhirombhakdi, who was himself the youngest son of Phraya Bhirombhakdi, the founder of the Singha Beer empire.

The lawsuit prompted Siranudh to reveal more details via social media about the alleged abuse, including a four-minute audio clip involving a confrontation with his elder brother Sunit.

Tore up contract

Siranudh, 29, said that his brother and a nanny subjected him to sexual abuse between the ages of 12 and 24, allegations that he said he showed his family proof of.

But instead of taking action regarding the abuse, he was made to sign a contract promising his silence, in exchange for five million baht per year (S$195,500).

Earlier in June, Siranudh publicly tore up the contract, saying that his family could not "buy my voice, buy my humanity."

Siranudh added that his mother called him an "ungrateful child" because he dared speak out about his abuse.

Expert opinion

AFP spoke to several experts about Thailand's ungrateful child law, with an anthropology professor at Chulalongkorn University, Jiraporn Laocharoenwong, saying that the English translation of "ungrateful" or "ingratitude" did not convey the much stronger moral meaning the term had in Thai.

“It refers not simply to failing to appreciate someone's kindness but to betraying or violating a relationship of care and obligation.”

Many such cases usually occur within wealthy families, and Pimyaphat Jullaphan, a Thai family lawyer, said that most are resolved through court-mediated negotiations rather than judicial rulings.

The focus in these cases, he said, is on compromise in order to help repair family relationships rather than to declare a winner or loser.

Such cases usually occur when children are deemed to have failed to take care of their parents, something which is considered one of Thai culture's highest values.

Western societies, he said, do not always have a direct equivalent.

Parental obligations

However, it was noted that Thai law also obliges parents to care for their children, although the ability for children to seek redress against delinquent parents was limited.

Jiraporn said that the case involving Siranudh and the Singha family invited Thais to consider the conditions under which a familial moral debt is "created, challenged, or even broken."

Siranudh himself has argued that the law reflects an outdated view of family relationships, and has "no place in a liberal society that places importance on the welfare of children".

"Looking at the fine print, this law is an attempt to kind of silence any damage done to a family name. Anything remotely damaging to the name is considered disobedient possibly by the law," he told AFP.

Siranudh and his mother are due to appear in court on Jul. 8, after several failed rounds of mediation.

Related stories