A multi-billion-dollar beer dynasty is being torn apart by explosive allegations of assault and a century-old law that is designed to protect parents from neglectful children.
The Bhirombhakdi family founded the Singha beer company and has an estimated wealth of $US1.75 billion ($2.5 billion).
Forbes lists the family as Thailand’s 15th richest.
But allegations of sexual assault have prompted a mother to sue her own son in a rare case involving Thailand’s “ungrateful child” law.
This is what we know about the law, the allegations, the questions the case raises and what happens next.
What is the ‘ungrateful child law’?
The law was written in 1908 and enshrines the central place of family in Thai society.
In Thailand, it’s expected that children repay the sacrifices of their parents through respect, obedience and material support.
The measure intends to protect parents from neglectful children.
Gifts can be revoked if children are deemed ungrateful, physically abusive, neglectful in old age, or responsible for serious reputational harm.
Singha beer is one of Thailand’s biggest businesses. (Instagram: singhabeer)
Jiraporn Laocharoenwong, an anthropology professor at Chulalongkorn University, told AFP that the closest English translation of the provision would be “ingratitude” but it carried a stronger moral meaning in Thai culture.
“It refers not simply to failing to appreciate someone’s kindness, but to betraying or violating a relationship of care and obligation,”
she said.
The “ungrateful child” provision forms part of a broader legal framework that puts strong emphasis on preserving families.
Thai law also obliges parents to care for their offspring, but legal experts say avenues for children to seek redress against delinquent parents remain limited, except in criminal cases.
A child suing a parent would be considered contrary to Thai custom.
“Rather than asking only whether a child has repaid a debt to their parents,” Professor Jiraporn said, the Bhirombhakdi case “invites us to consider the conditions under which that moral debt is created, challenged, or even broken”.
What has been alleged?
Siranudh “Psi” Scott, a fourth-generation member of the billionaire family, is being sued by his mother, Chiranuj Bhirombhakdi.
He triggered controversy in May after airing allegations that he had been sexually abused by his older brother and his babysitter.
His brother, Sunit, denied the allegation but was dismissed from his executive position with Singha’s parent company, Boonrawd.
Siranudh’s mother argued that he damaged the family’s reputation and was seeking to reclaim land worth millions of dollars gifted to Siranudh by his late grandfather.
Siranudh said the law reflected an outdated view of family relationships.
“Looking at the fine print, this law is an attempt to kind of silence any damage done to a family name,” he told AFP.
“Anything remotely damaging to the name is considered disobedient possibly by the law.
“It has really no place in a liberal society that places importance on the welfare of children.”
Siranudh’s mother, Chiranuj Bhirombhakdi, filed the lawsuit in February, prompting him to post his allegations on social media.
The court was seeking “an amicable resolution, with the ultimate goal of reuniting the family”, one of her legal representatives told reporters after a hearing.
“The mother is experiencing significant stress, as this case involves a person who she loves,” the representative said.
How common are ‘ungrateful child’ cases?
Lawyers told AFP most cases involve wealthy families with substantial assets.
Most are resolved through court-mediated negotiations rather than judicial rulings, according to Pimyaphat Jullaphan of the Thailand Lawyers Network, a family lawyer of nearly two decades.
“The focus is on compromise to help repair family relationships, rather than having a judge declare a winner and a loser, which can leave permanent scars,” she said.
Singha beer is one of Thailand’s most recognisable brands internationally. (Reuters: Chayut Setboonsarng, file)
As a result, cases rarely reach the public eye. However in 2021, an elderly couple who owned a petrol station outside Bangkok sued their son and his wife after being told to leave the family home.
The court ruled in favour of the parents, ordering properties they had previously transferred to their son to be returned.
A lawyer also warned a Thai actor this year that publicly admitting he was no longer in contact with his mother could expose him to a similar lawsuit.
“It’s often used when children fail to take care of their parents, which is one of the highest values in Thai culture, and doesn’t always have a direct equivalent in the western societies,” Ms Pimyaphat said.
What happens next?
Siranudh and his mother are due to appear in court on July 8 after two rounds of mediation failed to resolve the dispute.
Siranudh told reporters that after he informed family members about the abuse, he was told to remain silent to preserve the family’s reputation.
“Please take your money and power away,” he said after a court-mediated hearing in June, referring to his family.
“Because my dignity can’t be bought.”
Several celebrities in Thailand went public with their own experiences of assault and misconduct after Siranudh aired his allegations.
Singha is one of Thailand’s most recognisable beer brands, with partnership deals with Chelsea Football Club in England and the Haas Formula One team.
ABC/AFP
