The case came to light on Monday when Chuchai Chanphasuk, 55, accused his youngest son Pichan - to whom Chuchai supposedly had given 30 rai of land, five cows, and a pickup truck - of leaving him behind at Khunying Somjin Temple in Pathum Thani's Klong Luang district.

The father said his youngest son lied to him, saying they were going to visit the elder son Pichit in Bangkok. Instead Pichan dropped him off at the temple on Friday and sped away.

Informed by police and reporters yesterday at his home in Nakhon Ratchasima's Dan Khun Thot district about the allegation of abandonment, Pichan was baffled. He said his father had separated from his mother and left him and his brother in the care of their grandfather, retired school principal Suk Phumkhokrak, 84, while his father went back to Ayutthaya.

Wanting to see his father's face, Pichan said he went to visit him in Ayutthaya four years ago.

Pichan said last year his father came to him and said he wanted to live with him. But his maternal relatives did not welcome his father, who was paralysed and unable to care for himself, because he had deserted the family years ago and had not paid any child support. Pichan said he sent Chuchai back to Ayutthaya to stay with his sister.

Pichan said he wanted his father to live with him but the maternal relatives would not agree.

He dismissed his father's claim of a property inheritance, saying he only had an old motorcycle that Pichit had left him and was mainly dependent on his mother, brother and grandfather.

Pichan's grandfather, Suk, dismissed Chuchai's claim of giving property to his grandson. He said Chuchai had no possessions when he was living in Dan Khun Thot and had left his daughter and grandchildren to his care.

Pathum Thani Deputy Governor ML Panadda Diskul visited Chuchai at Thammasat Chalermprakiet Hospital and said Chuchai's story was depressing as it revealed the ugly side of society where children no longer respected or felt grateful to their parents.

He called on officials to take care of Chuchai and urged all youths not to follow this example.

Chuchai said after he was dumped at the temple, he no longer wanted to stay with Pichan because it was clear his son did not care about him. Instead he would live with his relatives in Ayutthaya.

Chuchai's nephew, identified only as Jeab, said Chuchai had been ill for years and that he had been the only one to care for him.

Chuchai said he missed Pichan and went to visit him in Nakhon Ratchasima last year, but was sent back to Ayutthaya. This happened several times until Jeab decided to tell local officials about Pichan abandoning Chuchai.

The Nation

Nakhon Ratchasima