A new Thai surrogacy scandal has emerged as an Australian man has been charged with the sexual abuse of twins he fathered with a Thai surrogate.
The man, who cannot be identified, is to face trial on charges of committing acts of indecency against the children, both aged under 10. He also faces charges of possessing and disseminating images of child sexual abuse.
Related: Gammy’s father found guilty of further indecent assault
The Thai surrogate Siriwan Nitichad is also the children’s biological mother. She agreed to use her own eggs to help the Australian couple, who had travelled to Thailand, as the would-be mother was reportedly too old to conceive. Siriwan was paid 170,000 Thai Baht for her services – approximately $5700.
“They said they were just married and they really wanted to have a baby so much,” Siriwan told ABC’s7:30. “She said her husband wanted to have a baby so much… She held my hand and said please help them.
“I thought she really could not [use her own eggs] because I saw she was quite old already. They must be really having problems and really could not find anyone else.”
Related: Gammy’s surrogate mum may face charges
Siriwan gave birth to the twins several years ago and they reportedly suffered major health problems in their early months of life.
“They were checked on many things, they had lung problems,” said Siriwan. “When it was time to give them up, I actually did not want to because I was worried.”
When Siriwan did hand over the children they were four to five months old. After the Australian couple took the twins home, their marriage broke down and court documents reveal that the father lost his job and allegedly soon turned violent.
Authorities intervened late last year and charged the father with indecent dealings with the children, who were reportedly were having night tremors and wetting the bed.
Related: Child protection services visit Gammy’s biological parents
The children are now in the care of the ex-wife and authorities are investigating whether to repatriate them to their biological mother in Thailand.
Ilya Smirnoff, who runs child welfare organisation Childline Thailand and has been helping with the case, says that would represent complications too.
“They don’t even speak any word of Thai, they don’t know that they are half Thai or have any connection to Thailand,” he said. “They consider themselves to be fully Australian.”
Siriwan found out about the allegation in June last year. “I felt terrible, I felt very bad. I don’t know how to describe it,” she said. “I knew only, when they came to talk to us they wanted to have a baby, will love them, will take the best care for them – I felt bad.”
Related: Gammy’s parents: ‘We didn’t abandon him’
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