Thai surrogate 'felt terrible' as twins went to biological father

The Thai surrogate mother who gave birth to twins allegedly sexually abused at the hands of their Australian biological father has revealed she is ridden with guilt after learning of the accusations.

Nine's A Current Affair last night revealed the Sydney man, aged in his 50s, has been charged with 10 counts of indecently dealing with the children and child pornography offences.

Surrogate mother and egg donor Siriwan Nitichad, now aged 31 with two children of her own, told ABC's 7.30 Report she did not want to hand over her surrogate children and she was willing to offer the Australian couple a refund to keep the twins in her care.

"After the birth the babies were not so strong so I was worried. They were checked for many things, they had lung problems," she said.

"When it was time that I had to give them up, I didn't want to because I was so worried.

"They were about four to five months old - they were so lovely.

"If they asked if they could cancel their payment and we keep the babies, I would definitely have said yes."

Mrs Siriwan said the couple approached her in 2006 when she was 24 after he and his wife found they could not have children. She agreed to used her own eggs.

"I felt terrible, I don't know how to describe it," she said.

"They said they wanted to have a baby, that they would love them, that they would take the best care for them. I felt so bad.

"The (woman) said her husband wanted to have a baby so much. Please help us, she said. Please help us.

"She held my hand and said please help us."

Mrs Siriwan was paid between $5500 and $7000, which is about half the usual rate to provide an egg and then carry the twins through to birth.

There was mention of extra money, but extra payment never eventuated.

The children were aged between four and five and the man had separated from his wife when the alleged sex abuse took place.

Court documents obtained by 7.30 revealed the biological father had a violent temper and after becoming unemployed, the marriage broke down.

The children were having night tremors and had begun to wet the bed.

Last year he was arrested and charged with indecent dealings of a sexual nature against both of the children when they were under 10 years old.

He has also been charged with possession of child pornography, found after a raid of his home.

Mrs Siriwan said she and her husband would be willing to take back the children if they were removed from their father's care.

He denies the allegations that will come before the court in December.

The shocking case comes after Bunbury parents David and Wendy Farnell sparked worldwide controversy when a Thai surrogate mother accused them of abandoning their baby because he had Down syndrome.

It later emerged Mr Farnell had been convicted of indecently dealing with young children in the 1990s.

The scandal has led to debate over Australian surrogacy laws and the practice of commercial surrogacy in Thailand.

Source: 7.30 Report, A Current Affair
Author: Chloe Ross, Approving editor: Matthew Henry