A fierce legal battle within one of Thailand’s most powerful families, owner of beer Singharaises questions about a law more than a century old, which codifies traditional values of obedience and hierarchy.
The “ungrateful child law” allows parents to revoke donations if their offspring are found to be negligent, violent or responsible for serious damage to their reputation.
Siranudh “Psi” Scott, a fourth-generation member of the billionaire family behind the Singha empire, is currently being sued for this by his mother.
The 29-year-old wealthy heir sparked a media storm in the Southeast Asian country in May by claiming to have been the victim of sexual abuse by his older brother and his nanny.
His mother claims he has tarnished the family’s reputation and is seeking to reclaim land given to Siranudh by his late grandfather, estimated to be worth several million dollars.
“This law seems intended to silence any damage caused to a family’s reputation,” he denounced to AFP. “Anything that even slightly detracts from the name is potentially considered disobedience.”
Rich families
The 1908 law enshrines the central role of the family in society in Thailand, where children are generally expected to compensate for their parents’ sacrifices with respect, obedience and material support.
“Although the closest translation is ‘ingratefulness’, the Thai term carries a much stronger moral meaning,” explains Jiraporn Laocharoenwong, professor of anthropology at Chulalongkorn University.
Siranudh’s mother, Chiranuj Bhirombhakdi, filed a complaint in February, prompting her son to share his accusations of sexual abuse on social media. They are due to appear on July 8, after two unsuccessful attempts at mediation.
She “is experiencing significant stress as this matter concerns someone she loves,” and was seeking “an amicable resolution, with the ultimate goal of reuniting the family,” one of her attorneys said.
Cases under the Ungrateful Child Act most often involve wealthy families and most are resolved through mediation.
“The goal is to reach a compromise to repair family relationships rather than letting a judge decide a winner and a loser, which can leave permanent scars,” notes Pimyaphat Jullaphan, a lawyer specializing in family law.
“Keep your money”
Cases are therefore rarely brought to the attention of the general public, with a few exceptions.
An elderly couple who own a gas station near Bangkok sued their son and his wife in 2021 after being evicted from their family home.
The court ruled in favor of the parents, ordering that the property they had transferred to their son be returned to them.
“This law is often used when children do not take care of their parents, which is one of the highest values in Thai culture,” notes lawyer Pimyaphat Jullaphan.
Local law also requires parents to care for their children, but legal experts say children have more limited means to defend themselves.
The Bhirombhakdi family behind the Singha brewer is ranked as the fifteenth richest in Thailand by Forbes, which estimates their fortune at $1.75 billion.
Siranudh says he was asked to remain silent, to preserve the family reputation, after informing relatives of the sexual abuse he allegedly suffered.
“Keep your money and your power,” he said after a mediation hearing in June, addressing his family. “My dignity cannot be bought.”
