A Thai stepfather, Sorradate, has confessed to assaulting his three-year-old stepson, Phupha, in Bangkok. The boy died after suffering severe injuries, including burns and internal bleeding. The case was brought to light by Phupha’s grandmothers, who noticed signs of abuse and sought help from the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women.
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The grandmothers reported that Phupha had previously told them about the abuse. Despite these allegations, the boy’s mother, Jiraphan, failed to address the situation. Jiraphan left Phupha in Sorradate’s care when she worked a night shift on March 25. She received a call from Sorradate the next morning, claiming the child was ill. Phupha was hurried to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
An autopsy revealed extensive internal bleeding, a ruptured small intestine, and bruising on Phupha's body. The Pavena Foundation assisted the grandmothers in filing a complaint against Sorradate, leading to his arrest on March 30. Sorradate admitted to beating the child and burning him with a cigarette, claiming he did not intend to cause death.
Sorradate faces charges under Section 290 of the Criminal Law for physical assault resulting in death, which could lead to a prison sentence of three to 15 years. This case is part of a worrying trend of child abuse, highlighted by another incident last month in Prachin Buri, where a child was reportedly abused by his grandmother.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 31 Mar 2026
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