Biological father of ‘Baby Gammy’ accused of trying to access funds donated to support infant
Following controversy, Thailand passed a law this year banning foreign couples from using Thai women as surrogates.
The Australian biological father of a Thai-born Down syndrome baby who sparked a global debate over surrogacy was on Tuesday accused of trying to access money donated to help the boy.
David Farnell, a convicted sex offender, and his wife Wendy Li made international headlines last year when they were accused of abandoning baby Gammy in Thailand with his surrogate mother because of his condition.
They took his healthy twin sister Pipah back to their Perth home.
The scandal led to an outpouring of support for Gammy, with more than A$235,000 donated from well-wishers worldwide.
Gammy lives with his Thai surrogate mother Pattaramon Chanbua outside Bangkok and the charity Hands Across the Water, which handles the donated money, said Farnell was trying to access it.
“Hands Across the Water was made aware several weeks ago that the Farnells were taking action in relation to accessing the Baby Gammy Special Appeal Fund,” the group’s founder and chairman Peter Baines said in a statement.
“We have no information as to the justification the Farnells, or their legal team, are making to support the application for access to the funds.”