Thai woman alleges son forced her into care center to seize cosmetics business

A 63-year-old Thai woman, identified as Phat, has alleged that her son forcibly confined her in an elderly care center in Kanchanaburi for over two and a half years. Phat claims that on February 21, 2024, her son and two men restrained her and forced her into a private ambulance under the pretext of psychiatric issues.

During her confinement, Phat reported severe mistreatment, including being locked in a room without a toilet for a month, being handcuffed to a bed, being forced to take sleeping medication, and being restrained to a chair for several hours daily. She also alleged she was stripped and forced to wear diapers.

Phat stated the forced institutionalization occurred as she attempted to regain control of her cosmetics business. After handing management to her son and daughter-in-law in 2022, she discovered the factory's name had been changed without her knowledge. Upon her eventual release, she found she had lost control of her business and valuable assets.

Thai Health Minister Pattana Promphat has indicated that the permanent closure of the care facility in Tha Muang is a possibility following these allegations.