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Aidan Jones

For most of his adult life, Siranudh “Psi” Scott kept a dark secret.
Allegedly abused by his older brother as a teenager, he buried the trauma, chose to remain silent and – outwardly at least – carried on as a scion of one of Thailand’s most powerful families.
Then, last month, he shared a raw, emotionally exposed confession with his hundreds of thousands of social media followers.
Psi, 29, publicly accused his brother Sunit of sexual abuse, eliciting a groundswell of public empathy, testimonies from abuse survivors and – in a country where family privacy borders on the sacrosanct – a crisis in one of its most prominent households.


The Bhirombhakdis, the dynasty behind Singha beer, are worth an estimated fortune of US$1.75 billion. Forbes lists the family as Thailand’s 15th richest.
Psi’s allegations followed on the heels of his mother, Chiranuj Bhirombhakdi, filing a lawsuit in February against her estranged son under a piece of legislation from 1908 that enforces filial duty.
Known as the “ungrateful child law”, it allows parents to reclaim gifts and inheritance from children accused of bringing the family name into disrepute. Legal proceedings are set to resume in July.
Unless a behind-closed-doors settlement is reached, it may ultimately be heard in public.
Breaking the silence
“It happens to you in a dark room,” Psi told This Week in Asia at a beach clean-up for his Sea You Strong marine conservation group, a world far removed from the Bhirombhakdi boardrooms he has since renounced.
“You hope that there’s something better that life stands for outside of the perimeters set for you by your family and the people who abuse you. I spoke out and it’s been a miracle the way people have responded to it.”
Sunit, who is in his thirties, has vigorously denied the allegations. In a video response shared online, he acknowledged bullying Psi during childhood trips home from boarding school in the UK, but flatly denied the sexual abuse allegations, calling them “disgusting and awful”.
Still, Boon Rawd Brewery, the corporate parent of Singha, dismissed him from his executive role within the company.

CEO Bhurit Bhirombhakdi issued a rare public statement expressing “deepest regret to Siranudh Scott for what happened” and confirmed the company was cooperating with investigators.
In a sign of the estrangement from his family, Psi – affectionately dubbed “merman” for his open-water swimming feats and known across Thailand for his environmental activism – says he no longer wants to be associated with the Singha name.
He says he has received messages of support from “many people in Thailand and overseas” and insists he will see the case against him through to its conclusion as he seeks justice and accountability.
I took a leap of faith, and I landed
Siranudh ‘Psi’ Scott, fourth-generation Bhirombhakdi heir
“I took a leap of faith, and I landed,” Psi told This Week in Asia. “It took me years and therapy to figure out the right way to lift the trauma off of my back. The most simple response to trauma is love and understanding.”
“It means a huge amount to say the words out on their own, because you’re changing the narrative, you’re no longer silent.”
“It’s scary,” he added, referencing the legal battles ahead. “But at least I’m free.”


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Siranudh ‘Psi’ Scott broke his silence on alleged childhood trauma as his estranged mother wielded a century-old legal weapon against him


Siranudh ‘Psi’ Scott broke his silence on alleged childhood trauma as his estranged mother wielded a century-old legal weapon against him.


Sexual harassment and assault

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Thai beer dynasty heir opens up about abuse, being sued by his mother: ‘at least I’m free’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Siranudh ‘Psi’ Scott broke his silence on alleged childhood trauma as his estranged mother wielded a century-old legal weapon against him

Siranudh ‘Psi’ Scott broke his silence on alleged childhood trauma as his estranged mother wielded a century-old legal weapon against him