Gammy’s surrogate wants sister back

The Thai surrogate mother of a baby boy born with Down syndrome says his Australian parents knew about him.

An Australian couple left their Down Syndrome baby with his surrogate mother in Thailand, while taking the boys healthy twin sister. WSJs Ramy Inocencio talks to Sam Everingham, director of Families Through Surrogacy, on the backlash in Australia.

Thai surrogate mother Pattaramon Chanbua wants Gammy's healthy twin sister back. Photo: AFP. Source: AFP

BABY Gammy's Thai surrogate mother says she wants his twin sister back in light of child sex-abuse charges against the Australian dad involved.

Pattaramon Chanbua, who was left with a Down syndrome baby who was abandoned by his Australian biological parents, says she would be happy to have the baby's healthy twin returned

after hearing reports that the father is a convicted sex offender.

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"Personally, when I heard the news I was shocked but I can't say anything much right now," she said at a press conference in Thailand yesterday.

"I want her back because she is my baby. She was in my womb."

"If (the allegations) are proved to be true, I would like to bring my daughter back to Thailand."

Touched thousands of people's hearts ... Thai surrogate mother Pattaramon Chanbua holds her baby son Gammy, born with Down syndrome. Source: AFP

However, she said she was inclined to leave the resolution of the issue up to "fate" and what was best for the baby girl.

"If she is happy, then I, as a mother, am also happy. I don't want to bring her back to suffer or anything. A mother would never want her child in trouble," she said.

"But if she really cannot go on living there, then I'm very happy to have her back in my arms."

Ms Chanbua, a 21-year-old food vendor who has two young children, has been bringing up baby boy Gammy as her own since he was born in December.

She said the father rejected Gammy, while taking his healthy twin sister home to Bunbury, south of Perth.

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"I want my daughter back" ... Pattaramon Chanbua, 21, would welcome the baby sister of Gammy back if she is mistreated by the Australian parents. Photo: AP. Source: AP

But the Bunbury couple — David and Wendy Farnell — say they have been traumatised by a messy legal battle and heavy media attention which has portrayed them as heartless.

Farnell has multiple convictions for sexual offences against children.

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The WA Department of Child Protection is assessing the safety and well-being of Gammy's twin sister.

Acting Director General Department for Child Protection Emma White told Perth Now that officials: "today commenced an assessment of the safety and wellbeing of the child."

At 8.30pm (EST), two people believed to be officers from the DCP knocked on the door of the couple's home to seek a meeting.

But no one answered and the officers left a business card at the front door.

The move comes as new details about how the South Bunbury couple met emerge.

The man was jailed for three years in 1997 after admitting to sexually assaulting two young children.

According to media reports from the time, the Bunbury electrician, who was then 39, pleaded guilty to the sex crimes and had previously admitted to molesting two teenage girls 15 years earlier.

Nevletting him out of my sight ... Thai surrogate mother Pattaramon Chanbua (L) holds her baby son Gammy. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

WA Supreme court documents also show the WA man, who is believed to be the father of baby Gammy and is accused of abandoning him, also abused at least three girls under the age of 13 in the late 1990s.

He was charged with six counts of indecently dealing with a child under the age of 13 and was convicted and sentenced again.

He had faced court for those charges while he was on parole for molesting the two young children under the age of 10.

Yesterday authorities said they had been called in to investigate the suitability of the man after being contacted by WA Police last night.

The couple is accused of abandoning seven-month-old baby Gammy who has Down syndrome and a congenital heart disease.

The couple are believed to have paid $16,000 for the surrogate who claimed they took the healthy twin, a girl, but abandoned Gammy after first asking for him to be terminated before birth.

The couple deny this, telling media yesterday that they did not abandon Gammy and that the doctor told them only about the healthy baby girl.

The Nine Network reported last night that the man's wife confirmed her husband had a conviction for indecently dealing with a child under 13 and had served jail time after being found guilty in 1998.

Ms Chanbua said she will never hand over to the Australian couple seven-month-old Gammy, who was born with a congenital heart condition as well as Down syndrome.

"Never. Not in any way," she said.

Described as "a saint" ... Thai surrogate mother Pattaramon Chanbua vowed to "never abandon" Gammy after the Australian parents reportedly refused to care for the child. Photo: AFP. Source: AFP

An online campaign by Australian charity Hands Across the Water has raised more than $215,000 since July 22 for Gammy.

Meanwhile Advocacy group Surrogacy Australia is calling for clearer and more consistent surrogacy laws.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they acknowledge the strong community interest in and support for the welfare of baby Gammy.

"We also welcome the response of the Australian public which has contributed generously to fundraising for baby Gammy," a spokesperson said.

"As the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister have said, this is a sad, complex and difficult situation, which also raises broader issues relating to international commercial surrogacy.

"The legal position of surrogacy arrangements in Thailand is unclear. There is no specific legislation which explicitly regulates surrogacy in Thailand. However, the Thai Government has advised it is considering draft legislation that may prohibit commercial surrogacy. Australian Government agencies are examining these issues closely in consultation with authorities in Thailand."

About 200 Australians enter into commercial surrogacy arrangements in Thailand each year.

"We strongly urge Australians visiting Thailand for the purposes of commissioning surrogacy arrangements to seek private legal advice in both Thailand and Australia before doing so," DFAT said.

"They should also be aware they may be breaching Australian law in some states and territories."

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