The family behind Singha beer, one of Thailand's most recognisable brands, has been thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, from inheritance disputes to disturbing abuse claims. Most recently, the billionaire Thai dynasty has been plunged into scandal after one of its heirs, Siranudh Scott, accused his older brother, Sunit 'Pi' Scott, of sexually abusing him for more than a decade.
Consequently, Sunit was forced to resign from his position in the company, a rarity in Thailand where negative publicity involving the elite is usually suppressed. Siranudh, a British-Thai marine conservationist and social media personality better known as 'Psi Scott', has long distanced himself from the ultra-wealthy business dynasty's image.
A Family Empire Under Fire
The Bhirombhakdi dynasty controls Boon Rawd Brewery, the company behind Singha beer, a business empire worth billions. The family is listed as Thailand's 15th richest by Forbes, with an estimated net worth of around £1.3 billion. Beyond Singha Beer, the group's interests include food manufacturing, hotels, power, and property.
The clan sits among the country's old-money elite, with deep ties to business and high society. Siranudh's mother, Chiranuj Bhirombhakdi, is the daughter of former Singha chairman Chamnong Bhirombhakdi. After studying in the US, she met her Scottish husband, Suthit Ivar Scott, with whom she had two children. Following their divorce, Chiranuj raised her family in Thailand under a carefully curated image of luxury.
Public Persona vs. Private Turmoil
Siranudh, dubbed 'Thailand's Aquaman', built a following through environmental campaigns focused on marine conservation, including long-distance open water swims and a short film project in which he appeared dressed as a mythical mermaid to raise awareness about ocean pollution. Meanwhile, his mother became a prominent socialite and photographer, and his older brother, Sunit, married actress Mild Lapassalan, who rose to fame in Thailand after her role in the Ugly Duckling TV series.
But their well-managed public image unravelled spectacularly after Siranudh launched explosive allegations against his brother. A viral video posted to Facebook shocked Thailand as Siranudh accused Sunit of sexually abusing him for approximately 12 years, from childhood into adulthood. Alongside the video, Siranudh released an audio recording of a conversation in which he confronted his brother about being forced to commit sexual acts 'many times over the years'. Another voice, allegedly Sunit's, did not deny the allegations but said: 'I don't even know what I'm doing, to be honest. I'm just like a child who doesn't know what they're doing.'
Family Feud and Legal Battles
The severe allegations triggered widespread outrage and exposed a bitter feud within one of Thailand's most powerful dynasties. Siranudh, who uses the surname Scott to distance himself from his Thai side, claimed relatives failed to support him after he spoke out and instead pressured him to remain silent. He also alleged his mother became embroiled in legal disputes over property and inheritance connected to the family fortune.
Siranudh claimed his mother accused him of being ungrateful for publicly sharing details about the alleged abuse. 'This year, my mother filed a lawsuit against me to claim property my grandfather gave me... She calls me an ungrateful child because I spoke out about what my caregiver did,' he said in the video. 'When I asked senior members in the family for help, they told me to apologise to my mother.' Through tears, Siranudh added: 'I don't want to stay in a family that doesn't value me or have empathy for me. I can't live with this kind of people. Everyone in my family knows it because they listened to the tape I recorded of his confession.'
Company Response and Resignation
Sunit initially denied the accusations, describing them as 'not true' and 'deeply unsettling', though he acknowledged there had been some 'rough' play between the brothers in their younger years. He also addressed the property dispute, claiming ownership belonged jointly to both brothers, and said their mother pursued legal action after parts of the property were allegedly damaged under Siranudh's supervision. Sunit's wife later shared land ownership documents online in support of her husband's statement.
However, as the storm grew, their cousin Bhurit Bhirombhakdi, one of Thailand's richest men and CEO of the parent company, sided with Siranudh. He signed a letter announcing Sunit's dismissal, expressing 'deepest regret to Siranudh Scott for what happened' and stating the company was cooperating with authorities. Bhirombhakdi also posted a letter from Sunit, which read: 'In order to ensure fairness for all parties, I hereby resign from my duties as an employee and executive... until the matter is clarified and conclusively proved.'
Meanwhile, Sunit's celebrity wife, Lapassalan, took to Instagram to distance herself from her husband, writing: 'I sincerely apologise for my actions and misunderstandings... I am deeply saddened by what Siranudh has to go through. From now on, I will be distancing myself from my husband to reflect on myself and take care of my mental health.'
