A member of one of Thailand’s wealthiest brewing families, Siranudh “Psi” Scott, is facing a lawsuit from his mother in a dispute that has drawn attention to Thailand’s “ungrateful child” law. The case involves allegations, family conflict, and a claim to recover valuable land assets, with the pair due to appear in court on 8 July after mediation failed.
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Siranudh Scott, a fourth-generation member of the billionaire family behind the Singha beer empire, is being sued by his mother, Chiranuj Bhirombhakdi. The dispute escalated after he made public allegations in May that he had been sexually abused by his older brother and a babysitter. Following these claims, his mother argued that he damaged the family’s reputation and is seeking to reclaim land worth millions of dollars that had been gifted to him by his late grandfather.
The legal action is based on Thailand’s “ungrateful child law”, a 1908 provision that allows parents to revoke gifts if children are deemed neglectful, abusive, or responsible for serious reputational harm. The law is intended to protect parents from neglectful children and reflects the strong emphasis on family obligation and hierarchy in Thai society. In this case, it has brought renewed scrutiny to how the law is applied in disputes involving wealth and reputation.
Siranudh has publicly criticised the legislation, saying it reflects outdated expectations of obedience within families. “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. He added, “It has really no place in a liberal society that places importance on the welfare of children.”
His mother filed the lawsuit in February, and legal representatives have said the court is seeking an amicable resolution aimed at reuniting the family. The Bhirombhakdi family is ranked as Thailand’s 15th richest by Forbes, with an estimated net worth of $1.75 billion. Most cases under the filial piety provision are typically resolved through mediation, particularly within wealthy families, according to legal experts.
The Daily Mall reported that anthropology professor Jiraporn Laocharoenwong of Chulalongkorn University said the Thai term for ingratitude carries a stronger moral meaning than in English, referring to a breach of care and obligation rather than simple ungratefulness. Lawyers also note that children have limited legal routes to sue parents under Thai custom except in criminal matters. The court hearing is scheduled for 8 July after two rounds of mediation failed.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailymail 27 June 2026
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