In a rare and highly publicized case in Thailand, Siranudh Scott, a member of the prominent Bhirombhakdi family known for owning the country’s largest beer company, has publicly accused his older brother, Sunit Scott, and a former family nanny of sexually abusing him during his childhood. The allegations, which emerged in May 2024, have sparked an uncommon public discussion about sexual abuse in Thai society, where the #MeToo movement has struggled to gain traction.

Siranudh, 30, also known as Psi, claims the abuse began when he was eight years old and continued until he was 13. He said the nanny sexually assaulted him first, and that his brother forced him into oral sex during summer vacations when Sunit returned from boarding school in England. According to Siranudh, their mother, Chiranut Bhirombhakdi, was aware of the accusations but attempted to silence him and cover up the abuse by firing the nanny and later cutting him off from the family fortune. Siranudh says he was subsequently expelled from the family’s beach house in Hua Hin.

Chiranut has disputed these accounts, stating in a written response that she only learned of the allegations against Sunit after they were made public. She rejected the claim that financial support offered to Siranudh was hush money, saying it was conditional on him upholding the family’s reputation, and said the legal action she initiated against him under Thai law was related to property damage and his disruptive behavior. Sunit has denied the abuse allegations and characterized the behavior as roughhousing in a social media post. He resigned from Boon Rawd Brewery, the family’s business, following the public accusations and apologizing for the incident’s impact.

The allegations came after years of silence by Siranudh, who initially confided in family members and therapists before taking his accusations public through social media in August 2023. He also secretly recorded a conversation with his brother in which he confronted Sunit with the accusations. The recording surfaced alongside his public statements but has not been released in full.

The family responded with a contract offering Siranudh financial support totaling roughly $300,000 in exchange for refraining from posting negative content about the family publicly. Siranudh signed the agreement but continued speaking out. His mother filed a lawsuit against him under a Thai law that allows parents to sue children for defamation. In July 2024, Chiranut dropped the lawsuit, citing a wish for family healing, though Siranudh has no plans for reconciliation and is preparing criminal complaints against his brother.

The case has drawn significant public attention in Thailand, where discussing sexual abuse, especially within families, remains taboo. Experts say Siranudh’s willingness to speak publicly has fostered a broader conversation and encouraged other victims to come forward. The family’s brewery issued a statement expressing commitment to responsibly addressing the issue while emphasizing that the wider family was unaware of the contract with Siranudh.

Supporters have rallied around Siranudh, often greeting him with encouragement in public spaces and standing by him as he pursues legal action. The case marks a notable moment in Thailand’s evolving discourse on sexual abuse and power dynamics within influential families.