An elderly grandmother’s legal battle against her eldest son and three grandchildren has shone a spotlight on the bitter disputes that can emerge within Thailand’s family-run businesses.
At the age of 80, Premchit Kingphikun fears losing everything – her family, as well as the businesses that have absorbed her life savings.
“I love them all, but I don’t know what they think about me,” the elderly woman said of her younger family members, tears brimming in her eyes, during a recent interview with TV news show “Hone-Krasae”.
By her side were several of her employees, who decided to speak out in her support after witnessing her ordeal.
Premchit is embroiled in bitter disputes with her descendants over the control of the family’s petrol station and related businesses in Saraburi, and the money they have generated over the years.
The grandmother said she began paying less attention to the businesses after undergoing knee surgery, only to later discover that the petrol station was in financial trouble.
After poring over the accounts, she became convinced that money had been embezzled, so tried to regain management control.
But she faced stiff opposition from her son, who reportedly even hired security guards to follow her and take the rent she collected from tenants.
Not the first
Premchit is not the first petrol station owner, let alone parent, to shed tears over the actions of young relations who take over family businesses.
In 2019, an 82-year-old man and his wife who owned a petrol station in Uthai Thani demanded their three children return the family assets left in their keeping.
When all but their youngest son refused, the parents took their case to court, which ruled in their favour in 2021.
Under Thai law, individuals who give away valuable property can revoke the gift if the recipients lack gratitude.
Under Section 531 of the Civil and Commercial Code, an act of ingratitude can take the form of a serious crime against the giver, an insult or defamation against them, or a refusal to help them out in times of need.
Complicated case
Premchit’s case is complicated because she shifted the petrol station to an adjacent plot that was purchased for 65 million, with her money, in the name of her three grandchildren.
Meanwhile, for commercial reasons, her businesses on the original plot are operated by a company that was not registered in Premchit’s name.
Even though her long-term staff know Premchit is in charge, she has little legal evidence to prove it.
Premchit is now suing both her eldest son and his three children on various charges, including embezzlement and night-time intrusion on her property.
Her lawyer says she will fight the court case with financial records that show her money was used to buy the land plot at the centre of the dispute, and evidence indicating that her younger relatives are formed and run the family businesses on her behalf.
The lawyer for the defendants, meanwhile, argues that Premchit gifted the money to all three of her sons, which the eldest used to set up businesses with the help of his three grownup children.
“I don’t know what grandma wants,” the eldest grandchild said, after learning that Premchit had taken the case to court late last year.
He insisted that the businesses his family was running were not inherited from Premchit, adding that his father had taken out a loan to finance the project.
“If I say anything, the public will condemn me for hurting a grandmother, when the fact is that she is hurting us,” he said.
