Arrest warrants issued for ‘Boom’ and husband

10 more donors to foundation led by actress come forward to file complaints with police

The Criminal Court has approved arrest warrants for actress Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee and her husband in connection with an investigation into alleged misuse of donations made to the Goodness Foundation, chaired by the former Miss Thailand.

The warrants were issued on Thursday afternoon after Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) police compiled the evidence they had gathered and petitioned the court.

Details of the specific charges and when Ms Panadda and her husband, Atip “Got” Anantawan, would report to investigators were not immediately available.

Investigators in recent days have been examining financial transactions and assets linked to the case, and have seized or frozen several items belonging to Ms Panadda and those close to her, including family members.

Meanwhile, social media influences and other donors have begun filing formal complaints against Ms Panadda and her foundation.

Lawyer Sittra Biebangkerd on Thursday brought 10 people to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to file complaints against the Goodness Foundation, alleging misuse of donations intended to help flood victims and people living in border areas.

Mr Sittra said the complainants had donated amounts ranging from thousands to tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of baht.

However, reports that the money had been used for other than the stated purposes had raised concerns, prompting them to seek an investigation, said the celebrity lawyer.

He said several donors had approached him, saying they had believed the foundation was trustworthy and that their donations would reach people in need.

Reports about the alleged use of donated funds to build a pool villa and cover other expenses had left them distressed, he said. (Story continues below)

Khongkwan Fuchitnirun, a businesswoman and beauty clinic owner, shows proof of a 100,000-baht donation she made to the Goodness Foundation, chaired by the embattled actress and former Miss Thailand Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)

Money for flood victims

A female complainant, whose name was withheld, said she had donated 90,000 baht in November last year to help flood victims in Hat Yai.

She said she had trusted the foundation and followed Ms Panadda’s work for a long time. News that the donations had not reached their intended recipients left her shocked and upset.

She said the money had been intended to help people affected by disasters and, if refunded, she would donate it to a hospital instead.

Khongkwan Fuchitnirun, a celebrity beauty clinic owner better known as Mor (Dr) Khongkwan, also came to the CIB to demand an accounting for the 100,000 baht she had donated.

She said many people she knew, and friends who had trusted Ms Panadda, were disappointed and saddened by the allegations.

Earlier, police froze 17 bank accounts containing about 60 million baht belonging to people linked to Ms Panadda and her husband.

Pol Maj Gen Thatphum Jaruprat, commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), said on Wednesday that investigators were examining other assets linked to the celebrity couple, including houses, cars and other items, to establish their ownership histories and determine when they were acquired.

Lawyer Sittra Biebangkerd speaks to reporters on Thursday at the police Central Investigation Bureau, where he had brought 10 donors to file complaints against the Goodness Foundation for misuse of funds. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)