Buriram: A 13-year-old girl in Prakhon Chai District, Buriram Province, has reportedly been subjected to molestation and abuse by her grandfather for three years. Her brother, unable to bear witnessing the continuous abuse, sought assistance from their relatives. Their grandmother is determined to pursue the matter until justice is served, despite the grandfather's claim that he only inappropriately touched the girl once.
According to Thai News Agency, the situation came to light when the girl's aunt lodged a complaint about the alleged abuse. The aunt provided chat messages as evidence that the girl had attempted to flee her home. This prompted a visit to the victim's residence to assess the situation further.
The grandmother of the children, aged 53, disclosed that the children's mother had left them with their grandfather after moving to another province with a new husband. The siblings include a 15-year-old boy, the 13-year-old victimized girl, and an 8-year-old boy. The grandmother learned about the abuse when her grandson confided in her after staying at her place. Despite being aware of the situation, the children's parents are currently unsure of how to address the matter.
When confronted, Mr. Uthai, the 57-year-old grandfather, denied ongoing abuse but admitted to inappropriately touching his granddaughter once while under the influence of alcohol. He also claimed that any physical reprimands towards his grandson were intended as lessons rather than acts of violence.
The Children and Family Shelter in Buriram Province has been alerted to the incident and is set to conduct an investigation. They plan to perform a physical examination on the girl and, if the allegations are substantiated, will initiate legal proceedings independently of the parents' involvement.